By Uzair Adam
The Kano State Hisbah Board says it has stopped a human trafficking attempt involving four women who were to be moved from Kano to Lagos, Benin Republic, Togo, and Ghana before being smuggled to Saudi Arabia.
Deputy Commander-General of Hisbah, Dr. Mujahideen Aminudeen, confirmed the operation in a statement on Monday.
He said Hisbah operatives intercepted the traffickers on Sunday along Zaria Road.
The prime suspect, Bashir Sani Ibrahim, was arrested by Hisbah personnel, Muhammadul Bashir.
The victims include Harira Muhammad, 30, from Jigawa; Sailuba Ibrahim, 30, and Rakiya Umar, 30, both from Kano; and Hadiza Muhammad, 35, from Yobe.
According to Dr. Aminudeen, each of the women had already paid N2 million, with an agreement to pay another N1.5 million when their visas were processed.
“Altogether, each one was expected to pay 3.5 million,” he said.
He warned Nigerians against falling for such schemes.
“People are deceived and their money is taken. When they arrive abroad, they don’t know whose hands they will fall into.
“Some are forced into prostitution, others into drug trafficking. Many regret the decision for the rest of their lives,” he cautioned.
Dr. Aminudeen advised that such huge sums could be used to start businesses at home. “If you have N2 million or N3.5 million, that is enough capital for a legitimate trade,” he said.
He added that Hisbah has handed over the suspects and the victims’ documents to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation.