Abeokuta — Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested four suspected human traffickers; rescuing 17 of their victims.

The suspects; two of them middle aged women, were paraded in Abeokuta on Friday, by the state Comptroller of Immigration, Ben Idu. Immigration officers in Ijoun/Tobolo Control Post intercepted Juliana Agesu (45) and Muyibat Busari (30) with two young male accomplices.

Idu added that Agesu and Busari were intercepted with 17 children aged between seven and 16 years, on their way to Lagos; where the victims were allegedly meant to be distributed to various households as domestic servants.

The comptroller explained that the team commenced their journey from Amanze in Benin Republic, at about 4.45 a.m., and made their way through illegal routes before they were apprehended about two hours later.

He stated that their accomplices, Ogungbeyi Oseni and Yinusa Kazeem, confessed that their movement to Lagos as houseboys had made them "local champions" in their Republic of Benin town.

"During interrogation, the boys confessed that since they were engaged as house helps in Lagos, they had become cynosures of all eyes in their towns.

They said during the last Christmas/New Year celebrations, they impressed many youngsters in their town, because of the way they dressed and spent money," he said.

Before handing over the suspects and the victims to relevant agencies, Idu urged parents and guardians to "stop trafficking their children on account of poverty.

"The place of children as leaders of tomorrow should be in the classrooms and not in the plantation, quarries sites or farms.

"We are ever ready to stamp out human trafficking in Ogun State, that is why it is necessary for members of the public to assist us with useful information that could lead to the arrest of traffickers, and to rescue of their victims," he said.