FRSC impounds bus with 17 children

15.04.2008

THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Nseobong Akpabio, on Monday in Abuja said that a bus carrying 17 children, suspected to be trafficked from Shendam, Plateau State, had been impounded.

Akpabio told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the bus was intercepted on Abuja-Nyanya-Keffi road.

“The FRSC patrol team sighted the bus on speed and the driver refused to stop for a routine check.

“The team alerted another patrol team which intercepted the bus and saw 17 boys in it.

“We suspect they are trafficked by Malam Zabura Hassan, also in the bus, who claimed to be their teacher,’’ Akpabio said.

Akpabio said the driver was booked for dangerous driving and moved to the FRSC Command Headquarters, Abuja.

He said that the suspected trafficker and the children were expected to be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition on Trafficking In Persons on Monday for investigation.

Hassan told NAN that he was an Islamic teacher and that the children had been with him in Shendam for the past three months.