Nigerians especially those in rural areas, have been alerted to an upsurge in child trafficking and prostitution involving Nigerians.

They were also urged to beware of suspicious persons who approach them with the promise of giving their children better lease of life in the city.

The alert became necessary following intelligence community reports which revealed that the Malian authorities had uncovered an under-aged prostitution ring operated by Nigerians.

This report was sequel to the arrest of twelve (12) Nigerian adolescent girls involved in prostitution at Kangaba village along Guinea Conakry road, outside Bamako, Mail.

The girls, mostly of Edo and Delta States origin, were commercial sex workers at a restaurant/bar called “Nigeria” and owned by an indigene of Edo State popularly known as “Mama Rose”.

Investigation also reveals that the girls entered Mali with fake identification cards allegedly issued by human trafficking syndicates operating in Nigeria and Benin Republic.

Deputy Director of Press, National Orientation Agency, Fidel Agu who made this known urged Nigerians not to give out their wards to strangers and suspicious persons with questionable means of livelihood to avoid the menace of such children being trafficked.

Also traditional rulers, ward heads and parents should be vigilant and conscious of suspicious persons in their communities in order to promptly report such and checkmate the activities of human trafficking syndicates.