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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue State-owned transport company, Benue Links Nigeria Limited, has intercepted and facilitated the return of no fewer than 238 trafficked persons and intending victims of human trafficking to their communities as part of efforts to combat child trafficking in the state.
The General Manager of Benue Links Nigeria Limited, Alexander Fanafa, disclosed this while explaining measures adopted by the company to prevent traffickers from using its transport facilities to move children and other vulnerable persons out of the state.
Fanafa, who spoke with our correspondent in his office in Makurdi, said that as of August 24, 2026, the company had intercepted 238 persons suspected to be victims or intending victims of human trafficking and transported them back to their communities for reunification with their families.
According to him, Benue Links has adopted a more aggressive approach to tackling human trafficking by deploying monitoring officers and sensitising security personnel operating at its terminals to identify suspicious movements involving children and other vulnerable persons.
He explained that whenever an adult travelled with children bearing different surnames, monitoring officers became particularly interested and conducted further checks to establish the relationship between the adult and the children, their destination and the purpose of the journey.
“We try to find out the relationship between them, where they are going and why they are travelling together,” Fanafa said.
He added that the monitoring process had led to the apprehension of several persons suspected of aiding, abetting or directly engaging in child trafficking.
Fanafa said suspects apprehended by the company were handed over to relevant security agencies, including the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) in Benue State, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The General Manager further disclosed that the company had been directed by the state Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to provide free transportation for legitimate victims of human trafficking who were rescued or found in other parts of the country and needed to return to Benue.
He said the arrangement covered victims regardless of their state of origin, provided their status as trafficking victims had been legitimately established and documented by the appropriate security agencies.
“Once it is legitimately identified that you were trafficked and the security agencies have documented the details of your person, Benue Links will assist you to get back to your destination,” he said.
Fanafa disclosed that some victims had been rescued from places such as Lagos and Benin and transported back to Benue, while others were assisted by security agencies in other states before being handed over for repatriation.
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He recalled a recent instance in which 11 victims were brought back from Benin and subsequently handed over to relevant authorities and reunited with their families.
He also disclosed that another group of about 15 victims rescued in Lagos was transported to Benue and handed over to the DSS.
According to him, the company’s intervention goes beyond transportation, as victims are also referred to NAPTIP and other relevant agencies for rehabilitation and reintegration into their families and communities.
Fanafa commended the wife of the Tor Tiv, Professor Ayati, for her interest in the welfare of returned victims, saying she had consistently received some of them and offered encouragement and basic skills to help them overcome the trauma associated with human trafficking.
The General Manager said the intervention had become necessary because some of the victims were deceived with promises of better opportunities outside Benue, only to be taken to destinations where their phones were confiscated and their movements restricted.
He said some victims were moved through illegal routes and eventually transported to other countries, including Mali, after being taken to major Nigerian cities.
Fanafa said the accounts given by some of the rescued victims had provided valuable insight into the methods allegedly used by traffickers to lure and move vulnerable children and young people.
He also disclosed that Benue Links had been collaborating with immigration officials, security agencies and other stakeholders to educate passengers and members of the public on the dangers of human trafficking and irregular migration.
According to him, immigration officials had visited the company’s terminals several times to sensitise passengers, traders and other members of the public, particularly during the early morning rush when the terminal attracts large numbers of travellers.
While acknowledging the financial implications of the intervention, Fanafa said Benue Links had continued to repatriate trafficking victims despite the revenue loss involved.
He stressed that the company was implementing the state government’s directive because of its concern for the welfare and safety of residents, rather than commercial considerations.
Fanafa urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements involving children and other vulnerable persons.
He assured that Benue Links would continue to collaborate with security and humanitarian agencies to curb human trafficking and ensure that rescued victims were safely reunited with their families and communities.
