Benue sends 58 trafficked youths back to Bauchi, Katsina

By HOPE ABAH EMMANUEL, Makurdi

The Benue State Action Committee on COVID 19 on Thursday sent back 58 youths suspected to have been trafficked back to their home states of Bauchi and Katsina.

The 58 persons were allegedly trafficked into the state about one week ago and camped at No.12/13 Adikpo Street in Wadata suburb of Makurdi.

The State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the COVID-19, Benson Abounu, who earlier on Monday led the quick response team of his committee to locate the persons said to be Almajiris at their  supposed hideouts, noted that the youths were brought to the state in violation of the lockdown rules and had to be returned to the safety of their homes.

Abounu disclosed that the committee provided the means of transportation, as well as security and documentation to facilitate safe passage on the highways for the affected young people.

Of the total number, 17 of the youths hail from Bauchi State while the remaining 41 are of Katsina State origin who were trafficked into Benue for allegedly seeking menial jobs.

It was also learnt that residents of the area where the allegedly trafficked youths clustered had raised the alarm to draw attention of the Abounu committee on insistence that the youths were sneaked into Makurdi, under the cover of the night and were dropped at their patron’s house daily.

The deputy governor however handed face masks to the said youths as he bade them well after they had been given orientation on safety tips necessary for them to avoid contracting and spreading the virus.

He maintained that all messures necessary to keep Benue free of the Coronavirus will be implemented with due diligence as he stressed that all destitute persons from other states found in Benue would be returned to their homes.

Abounu therefore called on the Benue people to close ranks and support the administration of Governor Samuel Ortom whom he said has given tremendous support to the Committee to enable it win the war against COVID-19. (Daily Trust)