Security forces in central Somalia have rescued 18 children who were allegedly being trafficked to Saudi Arabia on Thursday. The authorities in Himan and Heeb administration said the children, aged between 4 and 15 years, were kidnapped from Banadir and Lower Shabelle regions.
The Administration’s Security Minister, Mohamed Dahir, said the security forces had arrested three women and a man alleged to have been involved in trafficking the children at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Adado town, the administrative headquarters.
Dahir said trafficked children were used for criminal activities such as transporting drugs and other illegal materials.
One of the women accused of trafficking the children said they were going to the coastal town of Bossaso to seek a better life for the children.
However, Jija Hasan, 15, who was among the children, said they were told they were heading to Saudi Arabia to get jobs there. The local administration is now in search of the contacts of the children’s parent, who live in rural areas of Lower Shabelle and Banadir regions.
