Human trafficking ring busted in Nigeria, two women bound for Somalia rescued
The suspect and the two victims were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Kano State Hisbah Board has rescued two women who were allegedly being trafficked from Katsina State, Nigeria, to Somalia. The operation also led to the arrest of a 43-year-old man believed to be behind the trafficking attempt.
According to the board, the rescue followed an intelligence report shared by concerned citizens who alerted officials about suspicious movements involving the suspect and the two women.
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The Hisbah Motor Parks Operations Unit acted on the information and conducted a surveillance operation that led to the interception of the suspect at a motor park in Kano.
The Deputy Commander General of the Hisbah Board, Sheikh Mujahid Aminudeen Abubakar, confirmed the incident during a press briefing held in Kano. He said the rescue was the result of a coordinated response that involved quick action by Hisbah officers following the public tip-off.
“We received a tip-off about a suspected human trafficking movement, and our officers from the Hisbah Motor Parks Operations Unit acted swiftly,” Sheikh Mujahid said.
He explained that the suspect, identified as Abubakar Adodo, was stopped at the park while attempting to transport the two women to Lagos. Investigations by the board revealed that the journey was part of a planned route that would have taken the victims from Lagos to the Benin Republic and later to Somalia.
The rescued women were identified as 22-year-old Hajara Ismail from Funtua and 33-year-old Bilkisu Haruna from Kofar Marusa, both in Katsina State. The women were said to have been promised employment opportunities abroad before being lured into the trafficking plan.
Sheikh Mujahid stated that the intervention by Hisbah officers prevented the victims from being taken out of the country.
“The prompt intervention of Hisbah officials prevented the victims from being trafficked out of the country and ensured their safety,” he said.
The suspect and the two victims were later handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Sheikh Mujahid said Hisbah will continue to work closely with security and law enforcement agencies to curb such cases in Kano and other parts of northern Nigeria.
Human trafficking has remained a major challenge in parts of Nigeria, with many victims deceived by promises of better living conditions and employment abroad.
Several trafficking routes have been identified in the country, often passing through West African nations such as Niger and Benin before leading to destinations in North Africa and the Middle East.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has repeatedly warned the public about the growing trend of human trafficking networks that target young women and men in rural areas.
The agency has urged community leaders, religious institutions, and transport operators to report suspicious movements that could involve trafficking activities.
Officials of NAPTIP in Kano said the agency has opened an investigation into the case and will determine whether the suspect is part of a larger trafficking network. The agency also plans to provide counselling and rehabilitation support to the rescued women before reuniting them with their families.
The Kano State Hisbah Board, which operates under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, is responsible for enforcing Islamic moral standards in the state.
In recent years, the board has expanded its role to include community protection initiatives and cooperation with national security agencies in cases involving human rights violations and cross-border crimes.
Human trafficking has been listed among the major transnational crimes confronting the region, and the Nigerian government has intensified efforts to combat it through increased border patrols, awareness campaigns, and community partnerships.
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