Police rescue nine children, arrest two suspected traffickers in Niger State

Police in Niger State, Nigeria, have successfully rescued nine children and apprehended two individuals suspected of involvement in child trafficking. The operations, conducted by the Madalla and Kpakungu police divisions, targeted suspected trafficking networks.

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The war is still ongoing, with a focus on rising oil prices that could lead to higher inflation, which is keeping gold pressured.

In one incident, officers intercepted a vehicle carrying six girls, aged seven to 13, along the Madalla-Suleja road. The driver, Dauda Ayuba, was arrested on suspicion of trafficking. Preliminary investigations revealed he traveled from Benin City to Niger at the request of a woman and two accomplices to collect the children. Ayuba reportedly confessed to receiving N194,000 for transportation and logistics, with the children intended for domestic work, sales, or other forms of child labor for financial gain. He admitted to deceiving the children's parents by claiming he was taking them to school.

The police stated that Ayuba confessed he would receive a monthly commission of N10,000 per child, while each child would earn N20,000 monthly. He has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation, and the rescued children's parents have been contacted.

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$4,000 has been an important level, and shows that there is support for the metal when it falls below that mark.

In a separate operation, police in Minna arrested Mary Anthony, 37, with three girls aged eight to 10, also suspected of being trafficked. Anthony claimed the children's parents handed them over to her, citing a previous apprenticeship. However, police found inconsistencies in her statement, noting she was intercepted in Minna despite claiming to be taking the children to an orphanage in Suleja. She has also been transferred for further investigation, and the rescued children are in protective custody.

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In the longer term, I'm more cautious on gold and looking at the key $3,886 level, which, if taken out on the downside, could potentially unleash further weakness towards $3,500.