Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo warns youth against Libya-based human trafficking syndicate
Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo expressed concern that families were being impoverished by selling their livestock to raise ransom money for youth held by the Libya-based criminal group.
Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo has warned the youth in the region against increasing cases of human trafficking syndicate by a Libyan-based criminal group.
Speaking in Iftin Location, Garissa town, during the finals of a Peace Cup tournament sponsored by Iftin Chief Dekow Mohamud to boost police-community relations, Mohamed raised concern over the rising number of parents reporting their children being lured and trafficked to Libya. He urged the youth to avoid falling prey to the criminal groups behind the syndicate.
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"We have many opportunities here at home that you can venture into without falling prey to gangs who end up torturing you and soliciting for ransom money from your parents to release you," he warned.
Mohamed expressed concern that families were being impoverished by selling their livestock to raise ransom money for youth held by the Libya-based criminal group.
Government programmes
He urged youth to avoid seeking opportunities in countries plagued by criminal gangs and instead take advantage of government programmes aimed at empowering them for sustainable livelihoods.
The county commissioner warned that the government will take firm action against gangs collaborating with the Libya-based syndicate to lure youth into human trafficking.
He further urged youth and parents to report cases of human trafficking for immediate action.
Iftin Ward MCA Mustapha Abdirashid expressed concern about the increasing cases of human trafficking that have affected several families in Garissa.
"As we speak, there are more than 10 youth who have fallen prey to the syndicate where youth are promised jobs, and they end up in the hands of the Libya-based criminals. They are being tortured and the human traffickers are demanding millions of shillings to release them," said Mustapha.
He appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene and rescue the youth through the Libyan government.
Vocational training
The MCA urged youth to enrol in vocational training institutes in Garissa, noting that the government is offering free, skill-based courses to empower them for better opportunities.
He also encouraged them to take advantage of government programmes and bursary opportunities to further their education, instead of falling victim to criminals running human trafficking networks.
According to Iftin's chief, the football peace tournament aimed to foster mutual understanding, trust, and collaboration between the police and the local community while promoting peaceful coexistence and youth empowerment.
AC Milan won the final peace tournament with a 1–0 victory over Radicals, and both teams received gifts, including balls, uniforms, and cash.
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