July 18, (THEWILL) — The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has reunited a five-year-old girl, Rahama Ibrahim, with her parents in Damaturu, Yobe State.
Speaking at the reunification exercise, Director General of the National Agency NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, cautioned parents across the Country against leaving their children in the care of casual friends, untrusted neighbours, and one–off service providers, saying that such a situation makes children vulnerable to trafficking and theft.
The Director General was represented by the Commander, Yobe State Command, Mr Saleh Zakar.
Rahama was abducted in Damaturu a few months ago by a driver suspected of being involved in criminal activity of child theft.
She was subsequently intercepted and apprehended in Abuja by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The suspect and her accomplice have been charged in Court in Abuja. The event took place at the Government House in Damaturu, in the presence of His Excellency, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, the Deputy Governor of Yobe State, with the active involvement of operatives of the DSS, Yobe Command.
Speaking after receiving the child, the father, Mallam Ibrahim, expressed gratitude to the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, for her effort in ensuring adequate care for the child.
“I want to thank the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Director General of NAPTIP, for assisting my family in taking very good care of my daughter, who was stolen from us. When I came here now and see my daughter, she is very neat and well taken care of. I thank the DG and all other Officers of NAPTIP. This Agency is doing a great work, and I thank them very much”, the visibly happy father of Rahama said.
In his remarks, the Yobe State Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, commended NAPTIP under the Director-General’s watch, Binta Adamu Bello, for its proactive counter-trafficking activities and successful reintegration of the Child. He assured the Agency of the support of the Yobe State Government.
In her speech, the Director General, who thanked the Department of State Service (DSS) for its sustained support and collaboration with the Agency, which culminated in the arrest of the suspect in Abuja, called on parents to ensure adequate care and protection for their children.
“I want to appeal to parents across the Country to be vigilant and keep an eye on their children. It is very dangerous to keep your children in the care of strangers who come your way casually. Parents should also desist from sending their children on errands unaccompanied or on a lonely road in the odd hours.
“On our part, we shall continue to ensure the protection of Nigerian children, and we thank all our partners who have continued to support our work”, Binta Adamu Bello said.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
