Suspected human trafficker arrested with 39 kids

A middle age man iden­tified as Malam Awal Saleh has been ar­rested by security agents in Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa state for alleged trafficking of 39 chil­dren.

The suspect, Malam Saleh who hails from Takai Local Government Area of Kano State was arrested while try­ing to take the children to an uncompleted building along Wamba road Akwanga.

According to an eyewitness who identified himself as Mr. Daniel Agege Kpoku, the ve­hicle which conveyed the chil­dren arrived the area around 12 midnight and the 39 children alighted from the vehicle and headed to the uncompleted building.He further explained that on sighting the number of the children at such odd hours, the people of the area quickly alerted security operatives who responded promptly.

The suspect, Malam Saleh said the children were being taken to Akwanga for Quranic education adding that the set was the sixth he was bring­ing from Kano to Akwanga to learn.

According to him, he did not inform the relevant authorities before bringing them, he con­fessed that, that was not the first time of bringing children from Kano to Akwanga without the consent of their parents.

When contacted, district head of Akwanga, Mr. An­thony Yanusa and the secretary, Jama’atul Nasirl Islam (JNI) Alhaji Nasiru Shuaibu Loko said they were not aware of the movement the children to Akwanga and wondered how somebody would open a Quranic school without inform­ing the authority concerned.

A source at Akwanga Police Station confirmed the arrest and added that investigation was on-going.

He assured that the children would be re-united with their parents in Kano as soon as in­vestigation was completed,

Meanwhile, the Chairman Akwanga Local Government Area, Mr. Abas Liya Koto said the council in conjunction with the security agents would en­sure that the children are taken back to their respective parents in Kano state.

He called on the residents of Akwanga to be vigilant and report people with questionable characters, adding that security matter is everybody’s business.