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No fewer than 46 trafficked women and children intercepted while attempting to travel through irregular routes to the Republic of Chad have been handed over to the Katsina State Government by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.

The victims were intercepted at the Maiduguri border in Borno State while allegedly en route to seek greener pastures abroad before being returned to Katsina on Friday.

Some of the victims interviewed, Naja’atu Salisu, a mother of two from Zango Local Government Area of the State, said their journey was driven by economic hardship and the desire to earn a lawful living.

“We set out to travel to Jummaina in Chad, but immigration officials intercepted us and returned us. Our intention from the beginning was to look for money through lawful means by engaging in a trade,” she said.

Naja’atu explained that she practices tailoring and raised funds for the journey with support from her father.

“I am married with two children, aged four and two. I left my children behind to look for a means of livelihood. We are now seeking financial support to start a small business so we can settle down,” she added.

Another victim, Maryam Alhaji Salis from Zango Local Government Area, said she planned to travel to Chad to earn money ahead of her marriage.

“I intended to get married, but I do not have household items. That was the reason for my journey,” she said.

Maryam further disclosed that she borrowed part of her transport fare and sold her remaining livestock to finance the trip.

“Even though household items are not compulsory for marriage, it is still desirable to have them. Once Allah grants me success, I will return home”.

Also narrating her ordeal, Ladidi Audu, a mother of eight, said her health condition and loss of livelihood pushed her to consider travelling abroad.

“The reason I wanted to leave the country is mainly because of my health condition. I have no job, and I am struggling with ill health,” she said.

Ladidi recounted how she lost her source of income after suffering severe burns while frying akara, adding that she spent several months receiving treatment.

“I was told that the poor and the sick are assisted there, and that was why I agreed to go”.

Handing over the victims, NAPTIP Commander in Katsina State, Musa Aliyu, said the agency remains committed to combating human trafficking, child labour, and irregular migration.

“Our personnel intercepted these 46 victims in Maiduguri, Borno State on Wednesday. We received them on Thursday, and today we are handing them over to the State government, ” Aliyu said.

He disclosed that NAPTIP has rescued about 70 trafficked persons in 2026, most of them women.

Receiving the victims on behalf of the Katsina State Government, the Special Assistant to Governor Dikko Umar Radda on Drugs, Narcotics and Human Trafficking, Shehu Abdu Daura, said the victims were deceived by false promises of jobs abroad.

According to him, “These scammers falsely promised them job opportunities abroad, which in many cases have led people to lose their lives or lose contact with their families forever.”

Daura warned against illegal migration, stressing that those who travel through undocumented routes are exposed to serious risks.

“We are not discouraging people from travelling overseas legally, but those taken through illegal routes are not recognised or protected anywhere.”

Thus, he urged the returnees to embrace local livelihoods such as farming and trading, assuring them of the government’s support as they are handed over to their respective local governments and communities.