The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), North West Zonal Command in Kano, has rescued 10 victims of human trafficking on their way to the Niger Republic for onward labour exploitation in Europe and North Africa.

The NAPTIP Northwest Coordinator, Abdullahi Babale, made the disclosure in a statement made available to The Star on Sunday.

Babale stated that the victims were recruited from Kogi, Delta, Kwara, Oyo, Ondo, Lagos, Ogun, and Osun states.

“The agency, in collaboration with the Joint Border Task Force, rescued the 10 victims who were between the ages of 9 and 28 years. Two of them were males and 8 females,” he said.

Babale added that the victims were currently undergoing counselling in a designated place for that purpose, while efforts were being made to reunite them with their families.

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It would be recalled that in March 2022, NAPTIP North West Zonal Command rescued 35 victims of human trafficking on their way to Europe through Kongolom route.

Nigeria-Niger borderline has been facing upsurge of Nigerians trying to go through Niger Republic on their way to Europe via Libya.

Many Nigerians were reported to have been stranded in Tripoli where they suffered torture and exploitation.

Last week, many Nigerians stranded in Libya were returned to the country via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The Star