Kano Hisba Intercepts Ghana-Bound Trafficking Victims

The Kano State Hisba Board has successfully disrupted a human trafficking attempt, preventing the illegal movement of two young women who were allegedly being trafficked out of Nigeria to Ghana for purposes that authorities suspect involved forced labour or commercial exploitation. This successful intervention was detailed in a statement released by the board on Monday, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by cross-border trafficking networks operating in the region.

The operation was confirmed by the Deputy Commander General of the Hisba Board, Dr. Mujahideen Aminuddeen. He provided details on the identities of the rescued individuals: Zahrau Abdu, 16, who originates from Zaria in Kaduna State, and Kalzihar Salim, 18, a resident of the Fagge Local Government Area in Kano State. Their attempted journey to Ghana, a common destination for victims of trafficking from Nigeria, was abruptly halted by the Hisba operatives.

While the board’s statement focused primarily on the successful rescue and the critical role the Hisba played in protecting the vulnerable young women, it was notably silent on the law enforcement component of the operation. The statement did not clarify whether any arrests were made, or if any suspects or members of the trafficking ring responsible for organizing the illegal and dangerous migration attempt were apprehended. This omission leaves open questions regarding the current status of the investigation into the network that orchestrated the movement of the victims across state lines and toward an international destination.

The Hisba Board used the public confirmation of the incident to reiterate its firm institutional resolve to actively confront and dismantle the activities of traffickers, as well as any other individuals or groups engaged in operations that breach both national laws and the moral tenets of Islamic teachings. The board’s enforcement action serves as a strong, visible warning against those who seek to profit from the exploitation of vulnerable women and minors. The incident further highlights the complex, multi-layered security challenges faced by northern Nigerian states, which often serve as transit points for trafficking victims heading to other parts of West Africa and beyond. For the rescued women, the immediate focus shifts to providing them with necessary support and safe reintegration, even as the search for the perpetrators remains a critical security priority for state agencies.