Nigeria police free suspected child traffickers

The Kogi State Police Command has released the 103 children and adults handed over to the command for investigation by Maj.-Gen. Alphonsus Chukwu, Commandant of the Command Army Records, Lokoja.

A source close to the police command, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Tuesday that the children and some adults accompanying them were released on Monday.

The source said the children were released after it was established that they were on legitimate journey in search of jobs in Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos and Edo States.

The source said that the drivers and all the 20 vehicles conveying the children were also released.

The kids were arrested at various times and locations on the Itobe-Ajaokuta road on July 28 while being conveyed in 20 vehicles to various destinations.

Men of the Joint Task Force led by Lt.-Col. Gabriel Olorunyomi, who intercepted the vehicles, said that the JTF was forced to act when it was discovered that many occupants of the vehicles were under-aged children with few adults.

Some of the people children were from Oju in the Obi and Gwer Local Government Areas of Benue, while others were from Iyala Local Government Area in Cross River and Olamaboro Local government in Kogi.