A Nigerian man and his wife have been arrested in The Gambia for allegedly trafficking eleven Liberian children for child labour exploitation. The Gambia's National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP) confirmed the rescue of the victims in a statement on Thursday, 18th June 2026.
False promises of education
According to NAATIP, the suspects, identified as Mr. Bola, a 60-year-old Nigerian national, and his wife Khadijatou Sillah, recruited and transported the children under the false promise that they would be enrolled in school and provided with vocational training. Instead, the children were forced to work at a construction site without pay.
The statement read: “The National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP) wishes to inform the public that it has successfully intercepted and rescued eleven (11) Liberian nationals suspected to be victims of human trafficking on child labour exploitation in The Gambia.”
Victims aged 12 to 19
The rescued victims include seven minors and four young adults, aged between 12 and 19 years. They were discovered during an operation conducted by NAATIP officers at a construction site where they were allegedly subjected to exploitative labour conditions.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were brought to The Gambia from Liberia by the suspects. Upon arrival, the children were engaged in construction-related work without remuneration and were deprived of the educational opportunities promised to them.
Protective custody and investigation
Following their rescue, the victims were taken into protective custody, where they are receiving necessary care, psychosocial support, and assistance in line with the Victims Protection provisions of the Trafficking in Persons Act of The Gambia. NAATIP is working closely with relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, law enforcement agencies, and Liberian authorities to ensure the protection and welfare of the victims.
The suspects are currently assisting with investigations, and NAATIP is pursuing all relevant leads to determine the full extent of the alleged trafficking network and identify any additional victims.
Call for public vigilance
NAATIP strongly condemned all forms of human trafficking, child labour exploitation, and abuse of vulnerable persons. The agency reiterated its commitment to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting perpetrators while ensuring the protection and rehabilitation of victims. Members of the public were urged to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of trafficking in persons, child exploitation, forced labour, or related offences to NAATIP or the nearest law enforcement agency.
“Human trafficking is a serious crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. Together, we can protect vulnerable individuals and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable,” the statement concluded.
