TheCable

Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, has reunited seven trafficked children rescued from an inter-state child abduction and trafficking syndicate with their parents.

On Thursday, the Kano police command said its operatives arrested nine members of an inter-state child abduction and trafficking syndicate.

Usaini Gumel, the commissioner of police in Kano, said the investigation that led to the arrest followed reports of some missing children in the state.

Gumel said the syndicate has been operating for over 10 years, and allegedly specialised in inter-state trafficking, abduction, buying and selling of minors.

In a statement on Friday, Sanusi Dawakin Tofa, the governor’s spokesperson, said the seven children were abducted from Bauchi and then trafficked and sold in Anambra and Lagos states.

Tofa said the governor expressed worry at the criminal syndicate specialising in the abduction, trafficking, and sale of children from the northern states.

According to the media aide, Yusuf commended the efforts of the police and urged parents to remain attentive to the well-being of their children as a fundamental responsibility.

He also called upon the Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, to take decisive legal action against the arrested suspects.

Yusuf donated N500,000 to each of the seven recovered children.

Malam Saad from Bauchi, a parent of one of the trafficked children, thanked the governor and the Kano police.

Speaking Sha’awanatu Yusuf, the director of public prosecution at the Bauchi ministry of justice, said the state government would take the necessary legal steps to ensure that the suspects are brought to book.