THE National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has intercepted 32 victims who were travelling from Cross River to western part of the country.

NAPTIP’s Zonal Commander for Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states, Mr. Ikechi Nwachukwu, who disclosed this yesterday, said the victims were intercepted along Itighidi in Obubra Local Council of Cross River State.

According to him, the victims, 28 males and four females, were intercepted by the officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) with two suspects and brought to the Uyo zonal office on January 11, 2016.

He gave the age range of the victims to be from 15 to 21 years.

He said: “The officers of Nigeria Immigration Service intercepted these 32 young Nigerians who were travelling from Obubra and Yakurr local councils of Cross River State loaded in two buses. Two suspects who were conveying the victims in two buses are in our custody for interrogation.”

The zonal commander, who lamented that in spite of the sensitisation on human trafficking, parents still give out their children to traffickers for forced labour and slavery, advised parents not to yield to the antics and tactics of traffickers at the expense of their children’s future.

He assured that human traffickers would know no peace in the zone until they give up their trade of modern slavery, which has given the country a bad image, adding that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.

Speaking, one of the suspects, Mr. Dennis Agbor from Obubra, said he was arrested by men of the NIS at Itighidi while travelling with nine of his brothers to Akure to work for him.

“I have pure water business and two restaurants in Akure. I met with their parents in the village and made arrangement for them to go and work for me and I will pay N120,000 for a year.

“The children will stay with me and work for me. I lack workers for my business, so that is why I came down to take them to help me in the business,” he said.

Another suspect, Mr. Sunday Oyem, said he was travelling with his wife and three of his younger brothers when he was arrested by immigration officers and brought to NAPTIP office.