Kogi State security operatives have intercepted 21 underaged children in Yagba East Local Government Area from what is believed to be an attempt to train them for banditry.
The children, believed to be within the age of 6 and 12 years were intercepted in a trailer in Isanlu to be conveyed to Gada-Iyeh, a bandict prone area in Yagba East Local Government Area.
Speaking on the incident, the Child Protection Vocal Person, Amin Hajarat .A. noted that the driver of the trailer conveying the children refused to stop for the hunters association on check prompting them to alert the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp who eventually intercepted the vehicle.
Report say the Civil Defense reported the matter to the Executive Chairman of Yagba East Local Government Area, Dr. Joshua Dare Johnson who handed them over to the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Acharu Okpanachi.
Speaking on the development, the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Acharu Okpanachi described the incident as unfortunate.
Hon. Acharu Okpanachi noted that the Ministry would do everything possible to ensure the children believed to have come from different parts of the country are safely returned to their states.
The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development which has taken custody of the children is expected to hand them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for onward management p.
Meanwhile, the two men which were expected to have received the children are currently answering questions from men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp.
Joseph Adama
Information Officer
Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development
