By John Ogunsemore
Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani has pushed for the mounting of joint security task force checkpoints at the exit point of every state to verify children on transit.
This is one of eight strategies to curb stealing of children proposed by the activist-cum-politician in a Monday post on X.
In January, the Ondo State Police Command apprehended a couple, Lukman Isiaka, 42, and his wife, Abosede Olanipekun, 23, for allegedly stealing children across Ondo and Osun states.
The police recovered 10 of the stolen children, although some distraught parents who thronged the command’s headquarters lamented that their children were still missing.
Sani said travelling with children below the age of 13 at night should be banned.
He said anyone intending to travel with children in a private or commercial vehicle from one state to another must be made to obtain police permit.
He added, “Joint security task force checkpoint should be mounted at the exit point of every state to verify children on transit.
“Life sentence should be imposed on children traffickers.
“Regulatory commission for orphanages should be established to monitor their activities.
“Schools must give written consent whenever children are travelling outside their state,” he stated.
Sani said officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) should be empowered to demand for evidence of consent at motor parks or on the roads before children are allowed to travel.
He also urged parents to be vigilant to avoid losing their children.