The 23 victims of human trafficking from Burkina Faso finally breathed air freedom yesterday when they arrived Katsina in the evening to the warm embrace of the hospitality of Governor Aminu Bello Masari who, in a manner of speaking, had moved mountains to walk his talk about the safe return of victims, most of whom are citizens of Katsina State from Kankara local government area.
When news leaked out that some Nigerians, believed to be Katsina State citizens, were discovered ‘stranded’ in Doula, some 150 kilometers from Ouagadougou, the Burkina Faso capital, the media went into overdrive with the fib that they were kidnapped and sold on the West African country.
This was anything but the truth, because they were not kidnapped but tricked into travelling all the way to Benin Republic ostensibly to get jobs, only to end up sold into slavery to a Beninoise lady who took them to Burkina Faso where they were forced to work illegally at a mine before the Chief of the Hausa community in Ouagadougou got wind of their plight and report the matter to the Nigerian Ambassador.
After establishing their bonafide, the Nigerian Ambassador got in touch with the Special Adviser and Permanent Secretary, Government House Katsina, Alhaji Muntari Lawal and, the rest, as they say is history, which final chapter was penned with the safe arrival of the 23 in the Government House yesterday.
Standing, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, 4th left, Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, Malam Mustafa Mohammed Inuwa, 3rd left, Special Adviser and Permanent Secretary Government House, Alhaji Muntari Lawal, 3rd right and Special Adviser on Drugs, Narcotics and Human Trafficking, Alhaji Hamza Brodo, 4th right pose with the 23 returnee victims of human trafficking.
Abdu Labaran Malumfashi,
DG Media.
