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Four people are being detained in Burkina Faso’s main prison after security forces, upon questioning them, suspected them of child trafficking, PANA quoted the government daily “Sidwaya” as reporting.
At the time of their arrest, the four were traveling with nine children, all under 10 years of age. They reportedly told authorities that they were on their way to The Gambia to meet with the children’s parents, PANA reported. They have not been formally charged.
The case of the “Etinero”, a boat which left the port of Cotonou, Benin, in late March with suspected child labourers destined to work in Central African countries has heightened media scrutiny and the international community’s awareness of the issue.
Some 200,000 children are trafficked every year in West and Central Africa, according to UNICEF.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions