A boy allegedly being trafficked from Kumasi to Nigeria rescued

Aflao, June 08, GNA - A twelve-year-old boy who was allegedly being trafficked from Kumasi to Nigeria has been rescued at Hilan Kondjie on the Togo-Benin Border, and handed over to Ghanaian border authorities at Aflao.

The victim Sule Aminu, a primary four pupil of Central Mosque Basic School at Zabon-Zongo in Kumasi gave his father's name as Aminu and his mother as Memuna Asetu, both residents of Zabon-Zongo in Kumasi. The suspect described as a tall bearded man who covered his head with a red towel is on the run.

The victim told Ghana News Agency that while on his way from school about 1600 hours on Wednesday June 6, this year, he met the unfamiliar man who asked him to assist with part of his luggage to the main lorry station in Kumasi.

He said at the station the man asked him to join him on a vehicle under the pretext of visiting a brother at another suburb of Kumasi only to realize that they had arrived in Accra later that evening. Master Sule said the man joined another vehicle with him saying they were returning to Kumasi as he insisted to return home. The victim said he went into a deep sleep after he took a piece of bread the man gave him while at the station in Accra only to realize the following morning that he was at a strange place with the inscription Togo-Benin Border. He said as the man became cash strapped and went begging long distance drivers to help convey him to Nigeria, he spotted a driver he knew in Kumasi but the man ordered him to remain mute. Master Sule said the driver recognized him and sought explanation from him after which he asked the man to follow him (driver) to the Togolese police but the man left his bag and bolted. He said the driver took him to the Togolese police who escorted and handed him over to the Ghanaian border authorities at Aflao. Master Sule showed the GNA a 200 CFA Franc coin, the equivalent of 2,000 cedis, he claimed the man gave him saying he could buy a bicycle with it.

The Ketu District Office of NADMO is making efforts to re-unite the boy with his parents in Kumasi. Mr Moise Agbodjalou, Ketu District District Coordinator of NADMO appealed to parents to educate their children on the dangers in associating with unfamiliar people. 08 June 07