News
NAPTIP Smashes Human Trafficking Syndicates in Katsina

NAPTIP Smashes Human Trafficking Syndicates in Katsina
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have arrested three suspected members of inter–state human trafficking syndicates who specialized in the recruitment, harbouring and trafficking of young girls from other parts of the Country to the Northern Nigeria for sexual exploitation.
According to a statement by the press officer of NAPTIP, Vincent Adekoye, they were arrested inside one of the prominent hotels located in Katsina township (name withheld), with three suspected victims of human trafficking rescued during the operation.
He said the manager of the hotel and two other workers were arrested. Two of the victims are from Benue State and one from Rivers State, with their age ranges from 21 to 26 years old.
According to a preliminary investigation, the suspects were believed to be the major suppliers of victims to brothels and other notorious centres, including some neighbouring countries.
Adekoye recalled that the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, had directed operatives of the agency across the country a few weeks ago to step up surveillance and intelligence-gathering activities within their jurisdictions to address the reported cases of inter-state recruitment and trafficking.
She also directed the operatives to beam searchlights on the activities of some hotels, drinking joints, and motor parks in all the state capitals, to curtail the activities of some criminal elements who operate as members of human trafficking gangs in the country.
Adekoye said report says the rescued victims were found inside a small room located within the Hotel complex, while the traffickers were inside another well-furnished room within the same compound, relishing the proceeds of the exploitation.
Speaking after the operation, the victims claimed that they were deceived, recruited, and trafficked to Katsina with a promise of a legitimate job, only to be forced into prostitution against their will.
One of victim was quoted to have said: “I was brought here by a woman (name withheld). She promised to give us a job and that we would be paidvery well. I asked her the details of the job, but she said I will know the nature of the job when I get here. When we got here, she introduced us to prostitution, which was not part of what they told us before.
“We actually sleep with a lot of men, at least 20 men a day, and all the money we get goes to the chairlady of the place, by name Amarachi. We have no choice but to sleep with 20 men a day. Even when we are on our monthly period, we are being forced to sleep with the same number of men. Even when we are sick of tired, they will force us to sleep with me. They said it is not their business to know how we feel, but to engage in prostitution. They give us a fearless energy drink each to take every evening so that we can have energy to work, be awake to sleep with the men, and get money for them.
“They take all the money we make and leave us to feed ourselves”, the victim lamented with uncontrollabletears.
While thanking NAPTIP for coming to their rescue, the victims disclosed that the traffickers, in addition to crippling them financially so that they will not be able to escape, also paid some men to keep eye on them.
Speaking on the development, the Director General of NAPTIP, expressed worry over the activities of some hotels and centres across the Country that harbor victims of human trafficking, saying that the hotel in question shall be sanctioned in line with the provisions of the trafficking law.
She said: “I wish to commend the Operatives of NAPTIP in Katsina for the raid and rescue of the victims. Their stories are painful and sad. They were deceived, recruited, trafficked, and forced into prostitution. While they are facing horror every day from prostitution, their traffickers were somewhere within the same hotel,feeding fat on the proceeds of the exploitation.
“It is also important to reiterate our earlier warning about operators of hotels aiding and abetting the exploitation of victims of human trafficking in their facilities. We have commenced a legal process to determine the next execution order for the hotel. The law shall definitely take its course.”
NAPTIP Smashes Human Trafficking Syndicates in Katsina
News
Bandits kill two, rustle cattle in Kaduna community

Bandits kill two, rustle cattle in Kaduna community
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have attacked Unguwan Namaje, Lukora village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing two residents and rustling an unspecified number of cattle.
Sources said the attack occurred at about 2:50 a.m. on Friday when the bandits stormed the residence of one Abdullahi Yunusa.
According to the sources, three victims were shot during the attack.
“Those fatally injured were identified as Audu Yunusa, 15, and Salisu Yunusa, 23. They sustained gunshot wounds to the stomach and were later certified dead by a doctor.
“Another victim, Isiyaku Yunusa, 25, also sustained serious gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment at Saint Gerard Hospital, Kaduna,”said the sources.
Nigerian troops were immediately mobilised to the scene, while efforts were intensified to track down the perpetrators and recover the stolen cattle.
Bandits kill two, rustle cattle in Kaduna community
News
Police rescue eight kidnapped victims, confirm one dead in Katsina

Police rescue eight kidnapped victims, confirm one dead in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Katsina State says its operatives have foiled a kidnapping attempt, rescued eight victims and confirmed the death of one person in Dandume Local Government Area.
Zagazola Makama learnt that on Friday night, yet-to-be identified armed men laid an ambush along Funtua–Mahuta road and opened fire on a moving Golf vehicle with registration number EDT 693 AA, apparently intending to kidnap the occupants.
Sources said that the driver lost control of the vehicle which veered into a farmland.
“APC patrol teams promptly responded, cordoned off the area and engaged the hoodlums in an exchange of fire, thereby rescuing eight victims unhurt,” the sources said.
The sources dded that three other passengers sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries and were rushed to General Hospital, Dandume, where one of them was later confirmed dead.
The sources further said that search and rescue operations were ongoing to trace other passengers who might have scattered into nearby farms during the attack.
Police rescue eight kidnapped victims, confirm one dead in Katsina
News
Troops neutralise terrorist, recover AK47 in ambush near Buni Gari

Troops neutralise terrorist, recover AK47 in ambush near Buni Gari
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have neutralised a terrorist in a long-range ambush around Ndoksa village near Buni Gari, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama on Saturday that the ambush was conducted following intelligence on the movement of terrorists in the axis.

The source said the troops killed one terrorist during the operation and recovered an AK-47 rifle and two motorcycles.
“The successful ambush is part of the ongoing aggressive operations to deny terrorists freedom of movement, disrupt their logistics, and safeguard communities in the North East,” the source said.
Troops neutralise terrorist, recover AK47 in ambush near Buni Gari
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