The Katsina State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling child trafficking and the menace of out-of-school children, pledging to introduce an alternative care policy tailored to the state’s culture, tradition, and religion.
This assurance came on Tuesday as the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Hadiza Yar’adua, received Rahama Sanusi, a 13-year-old girl rescued from a suspected trafficker by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the state ministry.
According to Yar’adua, Rahama had lived in Kano for seven years under the care of her late mother’s sister before being trafficked due to caregiver negligence. The ministry acted swiftly after receiving a distress call on social media, collaborating with NAPTIP to locate her in Makurdi, Benue State.
“This is one of a thousand cases, and we are committed to working with UNICEF, NAPTIP, and the Ministry of Justice to protect underage children. We will not relent,” she declared, emphasizing that traffickers must face severe punishment to deter others.
Rahama’s father, Sanusi Ahmed, expressed gratitude to the authorities, revealing that he had made several unsuccessful attempts to retrieve his daughter from her caregiver before she went missing. He urged parents to take full responsibility for their children, regardless of financial challenges.
With Governor Radda’s full support, the Katsina Government is set to strengthen child protection laws and enforce stricter measures to prevent further exploitation of vulnerable children.
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