'We bin tink say dem dey help us but dem carry our children go' - Father of trafficked victim

Di agency wey dey fight human trafficking for Nigeria don rescue more dan 180 children for five states for di kontri.

Di National Agency for di Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (Naptip) allege say dis trafficking group dey carry children from vulnerable and communities wey get kasala.

Naptip say di trafficking group dey carry dis children from communities wey dey affected under false promise of education and welfare support.

Dem say di traffickers dey promise to give di children beta opportunities bifor dem go traffick dem across di kontri or sell dem off.

Di operation expose wetin authorities describe as sophisticated network of child traffickers wey dey pose as humanitarian workers and members of civil society organisations.

Dis latest operation lead to di rescue of three children from Kajuru for Kaduna State. Dem find dem for pesin private house for Onitsha, Anambra State.

Dem traffick anoda one wey authorities rescue from one nurse wey dey work for di Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Onitsha, and dem arrest her.

'We no know say dem deceive us' - Father of victim

According to di agency, many of di children wey dem rescue from di criminal group allegedly carry dem from communities for Benue, Nasarawa and Kaduna states.

Dis children wey dem use mago-mago carry from dia communities later end for orphanages and private homes.

Investigators believe say di pipo wey adopt some of dis children no follow wetin law tok afta dem don pay plenti money wey don move from one pesin hand to anoda pesin.

One father from Kajuru, wey reunite wit im son afta three years, tok how gunmen bin pursue pipo comot from dia community bifor strangers offer to carry di children go city make dem fit go school.

E say dem promise to take care of im son, but wen dem comot e no get chance to see im pikin again.

"We bin tink say dem dey help us. Instead, dem carry our children comot," im tok.

"I and some oda parents dey convinced, and since e gatz do wit di future of our children, we allow dem to take dem away."

"We never know say dem dey deceive us. Dem trick us and took our children away."

Di father say im son na three years old wen di pipo come carry am, and for di first time in three years, e just dey set eyes on im son again.

E say wen di children supposed dey vacation, dem beg make dem release di children for dem to come spend vacation for di village, but di traffickers no ansa dem.

Tori be say di nurse wey dem bin arrest for Onitsha bin tell investigators say she buy one of di children from one orphanage for Abuja in 2023 afta she pay ₦771,000 (about $561.70).

Director-General of Naptip, Binta Adamu Bello, say dis tins wey dem don discover dey show trend wey dey disturbing wia criminals dey exploit insecurity, displacement and poverty to target desperate families.

"Dis individuals go present diasef as aid workers, educators or NGO representatives, gain di trust of distressed parents and den disappear wit dia children," Bello tok.

Human trafficking still be one of di most serious criminal and human rights challenges for Nigeria.

Sabi pipo dey warn say trafficked children dey face risks wey include forced labour, domestic wahala and suffering, sexual exploitation, physical abuse, psychological trauma and loss of access to education.

Many children no dey togeda wit dia families again for years and communities wey don spoil already sake of kasala still dey suffer more devastation.

Naptip say dem don launch manhunt for oda suspects wey dem identified during di investigation.

Dem dey beg civil society groups to help dem expose dis criminals wey dey operating among dem and pose like dem.

"No be charity be dis; na child trafficking be dis," Bello cut warning for dem.

"Di pipo wey dey responsible go face di full wrath of di law."