Ilorin — Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kwara State at the weekend arrested a 45 year old woman, Mrs. Rachael Abel along with her driver, Una Ezekiel while conveying 26 children in a bus to Ogbomosho, Oyo State where they would be given out as house helps.

They were arrested along Osi/Odo-Owa road in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. They were coming from Benue State.

The children were aged between two and 15 years. Their vehicle developed a mechanical fault and they parked by the roadside.

Speaking to newsmen, NSCDC's Superintendent in-charge of Ekiti Council Area of the state, Mr. Jolayemi Samuel, said the suspects claimed that the children are school pupils and students in Benue State being taken to Ogbomosho for their holidays with their respective parents and guardians.

Samuel said that "every investigation has proved the statements of the suspects to be lies, because some of the children confessed to me that they were going to Ogbomosho to work and be paid for." He added that one of the children said they were being taken to the town to work on a farmland as labourers and at various homes as helpers.

NSCDC's Public Relations Officer in the state Mr. Kadir Ibrahim also said the suspects and the children would be handed over to the anti-human trafficking unit of the state police command as soon as the corps completed its investigation.

He warned individuals and groups against the business of human trafficking and child labour, saying it is a serious offence punishable under the law.