By Prosper Mene
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has successfully rescued a 14-year-old girl from severe domestic abuse in Sokoto State, authorities announced on Saturday, June 14, 2025. The victim, identified as the firstborn and only female child of Malam Usman Aliyu, was allegedly subjected to maltreatment, starvation, and exploitation by a prominent Abuja socialite and wife of a high-ranking public official in Sokoto.
According to a statement by NAPTIP Press Officer Vincent Adekoye, the girl, named Bashariyya, was discovered in a deplorable state by concerned neighbors, who reported her condition to the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour. The report was swiftly escalated to NAPTIP, prompting immediate action. The victim was found malnourished, unbathed, and emotionally distressed, unable to walk and showing signs of fainting due to extreme starvation and dehumanization.
The statement revealed that Bashariyya had been locked up for weeks, enduring severe abuse after being recruited by the suspect. When NAPTIP intervened, the suspect allegedly hired locals to block access to the girl, complicating rescue efforts. Hospitals in Sokoto were initially reluctant to admit her due to the severity of her condition, but NAPTIP persisted in securing emergency medical care for the victim.
Adekoye disclosed that the suspect, fearing the girl might die, returned her to Sokoto and handed her over to an individual named Maryam, claiming Bashariyya had “spiritual issues.” NAPTIP’s intervention ensured the girl’s rescue and ongoing medical treatment. The agency is now investigating the case, with efforts underway to bring the perpetrator to justice.
NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Bello, condemned the incident, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to combating human trafficking and violence against persons, regardless of the status of those involved. “No one is above the law,” Bello stated, vowing to hold all perpetrators accountable.
This rescue operation shows NAPTIP’s ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable individuals, following recent successes, including the rescue of a two-year-old girl trafficked from Abuja to Abia State and seven young women from a trafficking ring in Abuja. The agency continues to call for public vigilance to report suspected cases of abuse and trafficking.
The Sokoto State government and local authorities have been urged to collaborate with NAPTIP to address rising cases of abuse and ensure justice for victims like Bashariyya.
