Bauchi State government has reunited seven children who were earlier rescued from a child kidnapping syndicate.
The kidnapped children were united with their families after they were rescued by the police, who busted the hideout of the child kidnapping syndicate which operates within Kano State.
Report revealed that the children were sold for N2.8 million, as the victims of a criminal enterprise that stole and trafficked children from the northern region to the southern part of the country.
Based on intelligence gathered, the Nigerian police, who busted the child syndicate in Kano State, arrested members of the gang.
Parading the members of the gang, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Gumel, shed more light on the extent of their criminal activities.
However, the victims were handed over to their parents by the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who received them from the state’s Commissioner of Police, Auwal Muhammad.
Mohammad who expressed the need to eradicate such barbaric practices, also expressed worries about the potential for such a criminal act to sow suspicion and mistrust among different communities in the country.
The Governor however decried the act of stealing children, selling them, and forcibly altering their linguistic and religious identities for monetary gain.
“If this barbaric act is not nipped in the bud, it is capable of bringing suspicion and mistrust between the different people in Nigeria. It is unacceptable for people to be stolen and sold, and for their linguistics and faith to change just because of money.
“I hope these are the only victims. I hope many others have not been mutilated or killed,” Governor Bala said.
He however warned parents against neglecting their responsibilities towards their children.
Governor Mohammad vowed to support the security agencies with the necessary tools to carry out their duties effectively, particularly in addressing child rights issues.
Meanwhile, some of the victims no longer spoke or understood their native language.
