The speaker of the Niger Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, on Thursday disclosed a disturbing case of child trafficking in some Internally Displaced Persons Camps (IDPs) in the state.

He disclosed this at a plenary on the need to regulate the proliferation of unlicensed orphanages across local government areas.

The motion was brought before the House by Nasir Umar (APC-Paiko), who described unregistered orphanages and motherless babies’ homes as a looming threat to child security and public safety.

Mr Sarkindaji said he received a call from a prominent individual that a woman allegedly took advantage of displaced parents and went away with five children from an IDP camp in Shiroro, promising to enrol them in school.

“The woman came to one of the IDP camps in her car and told the displaced people there that she came to help them and that she wanted about five children with ages between five and six years.

“About 20 children were presented to her to select. Meanwhile, the parents don’t know where she came from,” he said.

He said the parents have since raised the alarm, as the woman has not returned with the children, and they do not know her whereabouts.

The speaker expressed concern over the situation, stating, “This woman took advantage of their displaced situation and exploited them”.

He directed the clerk of the House to transmit the part of the motion that concerns the governor to him and the part that has to do with the Ministry of Women Affairs and report back to the House on the progress.

Earlier in his motion, Mr Umar cited instances where 21 children from Niger were rescued by the Nigeria Immigration Service in Yobe from a human trafficking syndicate en route to the Niger Republic.

“Just of a recent, some days after Sallah, almost three people went missing after boarding tricycles to Paiko community, these illegal orphanages are used for these,” he said.

The lawmaker said many of these establishments function outside government regulatory agencies’ purview, endangering vulnerable children’s lives.

Mr Umar said the lack of proper documentation and accountability has created an enabling environment for human rights violations.

He called on the House to direct the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to carry out a statewide verification and audit of existing orphanages.

(NAN)