Benin boat was engaged in child-traficking

Officials in the West African state of Benin say investigations into a boat impounded following allegations of child-trafficking show it WAS engaged in the trade, as first thought.

A joint statement from the United Nations children's fund and the Benin government said at least a dozen of the forty-three children and young adults removed from the vessel appeared to have been potential slaves.

The statement said five of the children reported that a financial transaction had taken place before their departure, while eight told officials they'd travelled with adults they did not know. Initial reports earlier this month had said the ship was carrying more than two-hundred-and-fifty children. In the event, the ship -- the Nigerian-registered Etireno -- was turned back from Gabon and Cameroon.

The BBC West Africa correspondent says the incident has highlighted the widespread trafficking of child labourers in West Africa, despite opposition from governments in the reigion.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service