The successful rescue of a young lady, Rahama Sanusi, who was abducted from Katsina and taken to Markurdi, Benue State. This rescue operation was spearheaded by the Ministry of Women Affairs Katsina State under the leadership of the Honorable Commissioner, Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar Yar’adua, in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
On Sunday, 16th February, the ministry received a distressing message via social media about the abduction of Rahama Sanusi. Acting swiftly, the Honorable Commissioner directed her staff to amplify the message on social media, attaching a contact number for the family to reach out. Simultaneously, she contacted the NAPTIP Commander, Malam Musa, given their expertise in handling cases of child trafficking.
By the grace of Allah, within hours, Rahama’s family reached out through the provided contact number, confirming that she was their daughter who had been missing since 4th January. The ministry, in collaboration with NAPTIP, mobilized immediately to rescue her.
Rahama’s father, who had lost his wife, had entrusted her to relatives to ease his burden. Unfortunately, while staying with her aunt in Kano, Rahama was abducted under unclear circumstances. The ministry, alongside NAPTIP, arranged for the father and uncle to visit the office on Monday, 17th February, to discuss the next steps.
It was discovered that Rahama had been taken to Markurdi, Benue State, where the suspect was sighted with her. The ministry and NAPTIP swiftly coordinated a rescue mission, successfully bringing Rahama back to Katsina on 20th February.
During the briefing, the NAPTIP Commander, Malam Musa, detailed the rescue process and commended the Katsina State Government and the Ministry of Women Affairs for their swift action. He confirmed that the suspect has been arrested, and investigations are ongoing. Rahama will be handed over to her parents, who expressed profound gratitude to the Honorable Commissioner and NAPTIP for saving their daughter.
Rahama shared her harrowing experience, revealing that her hair was cut, and her name was changed from Rahama to Happiness in an attempt to conceal her identity.
The Honorable Commissioner, Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar Yar’adua, concluded by urging parents to be vigilant and prioritize the safety of their children. She emphasized that no one can care for children better than their parents and called for increased awareness to prevent such incidents in the future.
Rahama and her family hail from Dandagoro, Batagarawa Local Government Area, Katsina State. This rescue operation underscores the ministry’s commitment to protecting women and children and ensuring their safety and well-being.
The rescue of Rahama Sanusi is truly commendable and highlights the importance of collaboration between government agencies and social media in addressing such urgent cases. It’s heartening to see how quickly the Ministry of Women Affairs and NAPTIP acted to ensure her safe return. However, I wonder what measures are in place to prevent such abductions from happening again. The fact that Rahama was taken under unclear circumstances raises concerns about the safety of children in similar situations. How can communities and families be better supported to protect their children? It’s also impressive how social media played a crucial role in spreading awareness and facilitating the rescue. What steps is the government taking to further utilize technology in combating trafficking? Lastly, while this operation was successful, how can the system ensure that such cases are resolved even faster in the future?
It’s truly heartwarming to hear about the successful rescue of Rahama Sanusi. The collaboration between the Ministry of Women Affairs and NAPTIP is commendable, and it’s inspiring to see such swift action taken to bring her back safely. However, it’s concerning that such abductions continue to happen despite efforts to combat them. What measures are being put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future? I also wonder how Rahama is coping after such a traumatic experience—has she received any psychological support? It’s great that the suspect has been arrested, but I hope the investigation leads to justice and deters others from such crimes. Lastly, how can the community be more involved in ensuring the safety of young girls like Rahama? This case highlights the importance of vigilance and collective effort.