OPERATIVES of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have successfully rescued 14-year-old Bashariyya Usman, who was recently captured in a viral video showing signs of severe maltreatment, exploitation, and torture.
Bashariyya, the firstborn and only daughter of Malam Usman Aliyu, fled her home in the Dan Gyalla village of Zamfara State due to banditry, seeking refuge in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Sokoto, where she was allegedly recruited by a prominent Abuja socialite, the wife of a high-ranking public official in Sokoto, through a nurse at the IDP.
She was said to have been earlier discovered by local residents in a deplorable condition, unable to walk and severely malnourished, prompting them to alert the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), leading to the involvement of NAPTIP.
According to NAPTIP’s media officer, Vincent Adekoye, investigation revealed that in January 2025, a woman (name withheld), an indigene of Sokoto State residing in Abuja and wife of a Sokoto State Government Official, returned for holidays and expressed to her friend, a nurse and neighbor to the IDP camp, that she needed domestic help to wash dishes.
“Maryam recommended Bashariyya Usman, a 14-year-old girl residing in the camp and sought permission from the girl’s mother who allowed her daughter to assist for a day. Pleased with Bashariyya’s work, Fauziyya offered to retain her services and promised to pay ₦10,000 monthly.
Three months later, the suspect requested that Bashariyya follow her to Abuja, promising to enroll her in both formal and Islamic schools. She also pledged to remit ₦10,000 monthly to the family through Maryam,” NAPTIP said, adding that this was the beginning of the 14-year-old’s abusive situation, during which she was reportedly beaten, starved, and tortured.
“For several weeks, Bashariyya remained locked up, malnourished, unbathed, and emotionally distressed. A man was invited by her abusers who came back and poured spiritual water on her hands and legs while crying and begging for mercy every day. Fearing that the poor girl might die in her house, the Abuja socialite eventually returned her to Sokoto and handed her over to Maryam, claiming that Bashariyya had ‘spiritual issues’ and that she had tried to help but failed.”
After being returned to Sokoto by the suspect from Abuja, claiming that Bashariyya had ‘spiritual issues,’ her condition drew the attention of NAPTIP, but attempts to secure medical care were hindered due to local interference, prompting NAPTIP’s Director General, Binta Bello, to step in. The young girl was eventually rescued and taken to a hospital in Sokoto before being airlifted to Abuja for urgent treatment.
In her reaction, Bello described the abuse as a profound inhumanity and highlighted the urgent need for vigilance against child trafficking and exploitation in Nigeria.
She said, “This is one of the highest forms of inhumanity to humans. The suspect preyed on her vulnerability, the perceived impoverished and helpless status of her parent, and further traumatized her, thereby amounting to double jeopardy.
“Bashariyya is exhibiting visible signs of physical abuse, and we can see scars, bruises (both fresh and healed), and burn marks. She is severely malnourished, dehydrated, and emotionally unstable at the moment. There are indicators of trauma, both physical and psychological, resulting from prolonged abuse and neglect.
“The alleged perpetrator exploited the vulnerability of an internally displaced family and manipulated the child’s labor under false promises.
“She claims she was allegedly falsely accused, a common tactic used to justify violence and neglect against the vulnerable. The girl’s brutal treatment included physical abuse, starvation, and psychological torment, all under the guise of alleged accusations.
“Having narrowly escaped with her parent from the bandits who invaded their community in Zamfara State, one would have thought that Bashariyya and her family would enjoy relative peace, assistance, and protection from some privileged members of the society; sadly, the reverse is the case for this innocent girl.”
NAPTIP is now coordinating the prosecution of the alleged perpetrator and committing to providing Bashariyya with medical, psychological, and rehabilitative support. The agency has called on the public to report any suspicious activities related to child trafficking and abuse.
