The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued 184 victims of human trafficking in Plateau State, including three pregnant women, as part of intensified efforts to clamp down on traffickers operating in the area.
Anne Felix, Acting Head of Counselling and Rehabilitation for NAPTIP in Plateau, disclosed this in Jos during the quarterly meeting of the Plateau State Action Plan Implementation Committee on Women, Peace and Security, alongside a validation workshop for Local Action Plans in Jos South, Mangu and Wase Local Government Areas.
According to Felix, the agency carried out a series of coordinated raids in parts of Jos over the past quarter, leading to the rescue of the victims.
“We raided some locations in Jos and were able to rescue 184 people. Among them were boys, girls, teenagers and minors under 18. We also discovered that three of the victims were pregnant,” she said.
She added that five of the rescued victims are currently undergoing rehabilitation in NAPTIP shelters, while some suspects have been convicted and are serving jail terms following successful prosecution last December.
Felix further revealed that in January, operatives intercepted another group of victims who were being transported to Akure for trafficking. The victims were reunited with their families, while the suspects are facing prosecution.
Meanwhile, stakeholders gathered at the workshop emphasised the need to strengthen women’s protection and participation in peacebuilding and security matters across Plateau State.
Dr. Sesan Peter of the University of Jos, who facilitated the session, explained that the newly developed Local Action Plans are designed to bring support services closer to women at the grassroots level. He noted that women often bear the brunt of conflict, facing displacement, economic hardship and heightened risks of sexual violence.
Also speaking, Lantana Bako Abdullahi, Executive Director of the Women for Positive Peacebuilding Initiative, said Plateau is among the few states implementing a third-generation State Action Plan focused on prevention, protection, participation, relief and recovery.
Permanent Secretary at the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Rebecca Shasset, stressed that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the active involvement of women, describing them as pillars of reconciliation and community strength.
Participants at the event called for greater public awareness of key legislations, including the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and the Gender and Equal Opportunities Law.
The initiative is supported by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria Programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and implemented by Tetra Tech International Development, with the Women for Positive Peacebuilding Initiative serving as the local partner.
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