Trafficked 12-year-old Beninoise rescued in Bayelsa

• Published date: 09 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Bayelsa State have rescued a 12-year-old boy identified as Tobi Fred from Banigbe-Lokossa region of Cotonou, Benin Republic.

The boy was found wandering at a checkpoint during a patrol by NIS operatives at the Yenagoa Tollgate.

The NIS, in a statement on Monday via electronic mail and signed by the State Comptroller, Mr Sunday James, said a minor was found wandering around the checkpoint.

He said: 'The boy was brought to the Command for proper profiling and possible reunion with his family; the underage name Tobi Fred is from Banigbe-Lokossa region of Cotonou in Benin Republic.

'Investigation revealed an issue of child abandonment. The underage does not understand English apart from his local Beninoise language.

'The minor was helped out by an interpreter in the person of the Assistant Chairman of the Beninoise community in Bayelsa, Mr Etienne Fred, not related to the victim.

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