Operatives of Kano State Police Command have rescued over 300 workers forced to spend three months in a factory called “popular farm rice”, in Challawa industrial area.
It was gathered that the operatives stormed the factory on Monday after obtaining a court injunction, arresting four managers and releasing the detained workers.
From the end of March the men were allegedly not allowed to leave the mill in the northern city of Kano.
According to the workers, they were denied access outside the premises of the factory due to the fear of bringing in coronavirus, COVID-19, into the factory.
The workers were promised an additional $13 (£10) a month on top of their $72 monthly salary – those who did not accept were threatened with the sack.
A worker at the factory, Haruna Salihu said “We were tricked to stay in the factory for five days, then (it was) extended to seven days, then two weeks and subsequently extended to one month. We are now detained for over three months. There are about 600 workers in the factory. We are sleeping in a very poor environment. I am appealing to authorities to allow me to go back to my family.”
Similarly, another employee lamented that though he was not forced to stay, but was threatened with dismissal if he decided to go outside the factory.
Spokesperson of the state Police Command, Abdullahi Kiyawa, said they had arrested four management staff of the factory, and investigation was ongoing to verify the allegations against them, adding “we have found many workers locked and enslaved in the factory. The commissioner of police, Habu A Sani, has directed for a thorough investigation. So far, we have arrested four management staff and investigation has commenced.”
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