Vehicle Trafficking Under-Aged Children In Ebonyi State Intercepted

An 18-seater bus conveying suspected victims of human trafficking including underage children was intercepted by the Ebonyi State Command of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Vanguard gathers that the intercepted vehicle with registration number Lagos LDD-468XH with the insignia of ‘Ondo State Sunshine Express’ boldly written on it had 18 passengers travelling in it.

Speaking with newsmen at the Command Headquarters in Abakaliki, Barrister Okey Ezugwu the State Acting Controller of NIS, stated that the surveillance team of the Command intercepted the vehicle in Abakaliki axis on their way to Edo state from Bekwara in Cross River state.

During interrogation, Ezugwu said the victims reported that they were going to Ondo while some were sent to Benin to work in a Cocoa plantation.

He further stated that they had no business going on the trip without their parents adding that it was child labour and abuse of child rights for children below 18 years to be subjected to such inhuman treatment of working in a cocoa farm.

He then called out on all parents that they have the responsibility of taking care of their children, knowing the companies they keep, where they go, and whatever they are doing at every point in time.

He stressed that it was not a good option for responsible parents to give their children out to strangers for monetary and material gains.

Photo credit: Vanguard