August 29, 2022

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), says it recorded 78 cases of trafficking with 121 victims in Plateau.

The State Commander in Plateau, Mr. Adole Alexander, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos.

He said that the cases were recorded from March 2021 till date and were mostly from Riyom and Bassa Local Government Areas, who have been
identified as the most endemic areas.

He added that trafficking in Langtang North LGA was mostly used as domestic helps.

He said that 15 cases were already in court with five at conviction stage.

“So far, we have about 121 victims and we have reunited so many of them with their families.

“We still have six in our care, four are in school, one is learning a trade, and one is a lady of 17 years impregnated by her own father, she is in our custody with her child now,” he said.

The commander explained that some cases outside their jurisdiction were referred to the relevant organisations for appropriate action.

“Some do not fall within our jurisdiction like the ones that have to do with custody of children.

“We refer them to women affairs and other organisations, those within our jurisdiction we are investigating them,” he said.

He said an orphanage operating illegally was closed in Jos, when it was
discovered to house many children from Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and some
local government areas in Plateau for trafficking to other parts of
Nigeria.

“We rescued 68 children from a fake orphanage called Our Lordship Orphanage, operated by three persons who were recruiting children from Adamawa, Taraba, and some LGAs in Plateau like Langtang, Quanpang and Riyom.

“ We have been able to reunite all of them with their families.”

He urged parents and guardians especially in conflict areas in the state to investigate organisations, who come to take their children to their orphanages promising them education, skills acquisition and other services.

He said that many traffickers use that as guise to recruit children for hard labour and sexual gratification. (NAN)