The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP has confirmed cases of how mothers rent out children to beggars for N3000 in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
According to NAPTIP said there were human trafficking gangs who specialize in hiring these children for the job.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Prof Fatima Waziri-Azi disclosed this in Abuja while speaking on the efforts of the agency in tackling some emerging trends of human trafficking and other associated crimes across the country.
NAPTIP said it has begun a manhunt for members of the criminal syndicate already implicated in this act.
She revealed that during a routine undercover operation by operatives of the Rapid Response Unit of the Agency around the Abuja – Nyanya corridors, the operatives intercepted the syndicates and promptly rescued three children all under the age of one that was allegedly rented out by their mothers to the traffickers to beg for alms at one of the busy spots in the Nyanya area for N3,000 a day for each child rented out.
It hence alerted Nigerians, especially residents of the nation’s capital on the unwholesome activities of trafficking children and hiring out such children for sundry exploitative purposes including begging for alms.
She said:
“These suspected trafficking syndicates specialized in collecting babies with the connivance of other members of the gang, hire out these innocent children and position them at the roadsides at busy intersections and bus stops, where they use them for alms begging.
“They will detail another older child to watch over the children as they move them from one point to another and also to ensure that the proceeds of the begging is collected at intervals.
“These infants are exposed to harsh weather conditions on daily basis in a dusty and dirty environment even in the face of vehicular movement and other forms of abuse without proper feeding.
“This ugly development is one of the highest forms of cruelty as these children whose ages range between 7-9 months, are made to face life-threatening situations on daily basis. The Director-General has warned that all those involved including parents who give out their children for unclear purposes shall be fished out and prosecuted.”
Waziri-Azi assured the agency had also begun discussion with the relevant government security departments to increase vigilance within the said areas understood for street begging around the FCT.
