Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nasarawa State Command, have rescued 17 children from suspected human traffickers in Karu Local Government Area of the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ramhan Nansel, and obtained by our correspondent in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

He described the rescue as a major breakthrough in the command’s sustained efforts to combat human trafficking and other related crimes across the 13 local government areas of the state.

According to the statement, “Police personnel attached to Mararaba ‘A’ Division, Karu Local Government Area (LGA), while on stop-and-search duty at Sharp Corner, intercepted a white Volkswagen Sharon vehicle with registration number SHD 253 YU on Saturday, January 17, at about 5:50 p.m.

“The vehicle was driven by one Nanle John, male, aged 36 years, and had 17 passengers on board, comprising 11 boys and six girls, all within the ages of 10 to 19 years.

“Upon interrogation, the occupants were suspected to be victims of human trafficking from Shendam, Plateau State.”

SP Nansel, however, added that investigations revealed that both the driver and the passengers were travelling from Shendam to Kayama in Kwara State to meet one Umaru.

He said the said Umaru allegedly lured the victims with promises of securing farming jobs for them in Kayama, Kwara State.

The police spokesperson further stated that all efforts to contact the parents or guardians of the children, as well as the said Umaru, proved abortive, as all the phone numbers provided were unreachable.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, had ordered that the children be taken into protective custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lafia.

According to him, the commissioner also directed that a thorough investigation be carried out to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and to apprehend all those connected to the suspected human trafficking network.

The police spokesperson listed the names of the rescued children as Nanpar Zwaltur, Monday Zinglak, Ramnap Selchum, Nankat Ayuba, Burnan Yilkur, Timnan Ponfa, Nantip Nanbut, Kumlyan Nanbut, Zwalkur Zingdap and Nanfar Zwalkur.

Others are Nanpar Nanbut, Nanchu Bwoi, Godiya Lagang, Yulbyen Zingdap, Nanna Chirvyok, Sholyen Rapkat and Ladi Dinfa.

Reiterating the command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and eradicating human trafficking in the state, SP Nansel urged members of the public to report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station for immediate action.