By PALANG KASMI
Recent reports linking Plateau State to human trafficking have become a source of grave concern, prompting questions about what has gone wrong and how to reverse the trend.
The frequent connection of the state to cases of child trafficking in national news and on social media platforms has alarmed citizens and stakeholders alike.
One of the most recent incidents involved a young woman intercepted while attempting to transport minors to Lagos. Thanks to the vigilance of a concerned individual at a car park, the children were rescued.
The Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Caroline Dafur, shared the incident on her Facebook page. She revealed that the children, from Langtang South Local Government Area, were to be “waybilled” to Lagos for an unknown individual. The trafficker, Mrs Manwor Ayuba, was eventually arrested by the Plateau State Joint Task Force on Trafficking.
While commending Apostle Jack Mamven for his patriotism in rescuing the minors, the commissioner reiterated her ministry’s commitment to combating child labour and exploitation. She warned parents and citizens of the criminality of such acts, stating, “I don’t know what is happening to parents on the Plateau. This has to stop; we cannot continue like this.” She also urged citizens to report suspicious activities involving children to her ministry via the provided helpline numbers.
A worrisome trend
In November 2023, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) rescued 14 children from Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State being trafficked to Lagos for child labour. These victims, aged 13-17, were intercepted during their journey, thanks to collaboration between NAPTIP offices in Jos and Lagos.
On January 6, 2025, the Nigeria Police Force dismantled a child-trafficking syndicate led by Pastor Dayo Bernard of the End Time Army Ministry in Bukuru, Plateau State. Five children, aged 2-4, abducted from various homes in Jos, were rescued. The suspect confessed to abducting and selling 13 children.
Other members of the syndicate, including Rita Agboeze and Nanman Puntel, were also apprehended, with all rescued children reunited with their families through the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
In June 2024, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, intervened in the rescue of 10 Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana for prostitution under the guise of employment. Two of the girls, aged 15-18, were from Plateau State.
Government Interventions and Collaborative Efforts
In 2024, the Plateau State Government took proactive measures by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the international NGO, Both Ends Believing (BEB), and the Association of Orphanages and Home Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON). This partnership focuses on creating a digital identity for children in orphanages to facilitate permanent placements in safe, loving families.
At the national level, Nigeria has implemented the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking (2022-2026) and is a signatory to the 2000 United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC). NAPTIP, established in 2003, continues to play a critical role in combating trafficking.
A global perspective
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlights child trafficking as a severe violation of human rights, involving exploitation through forced labour, sexual abuse, child marriage, illegal adoption, and more. In 2020, nearly 20,000 children globally were identified as trafficking victims, though the actual figure is likely higher due to underreporting. Sub-Saharan Africa remains a hotspot, with children accounting for the majority of victims.
The way out
Child trafficking is a blight on Plateau State’s reputation as the ‘Home of Peace and Tourism’. To combat this growing menace, all stakeholders – including government, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, youth groups, parents and neighbours – must work collaboratively. Reporting suspicious activities, dismantling trafficking networks and ensuring vigilance at the community level are critical.
Massive sensitisation campaigns should be launched in markets, schools, religious centres and villages to educate citizens about the dangers of child trafficking and the penalties for engaging in such acts.
Media campaigns can further amplify these efforts, ensuring every Plateau resident recognises their role in ending this scourge.
No doubt, the lives of innocent children are at stake. It is everyone’s responsibility to protect them and dismantle the networks that perpetuate this heinous crime. Only then can Plateau State reclaim its status as a beacon of peace and progress.