Follow Us on Google
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The National Taskforce on Anti-Human Trafficking of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) in Plateau State has clampdown on various notorious spots identified for child exploitations, prostitution, trading of drugs/ substances and arrested over 184 persons, including three pregnant women at various points of pickup in the night.
The well coordinated operations which lasted for about 12 hours made tremendous harvest of minors, their exploiters, including three foreigners from Chad, Niger Republic and Cameroon respectively.
The NAPTIP National Taskforce team comprises of the Police, NDLEA, Immigration, Federal Road Safety Corp, vigilantes, market women, National Road Transport Workers, NGOs, traditional rulers, CAN, JNI, teachers, PIDAN, Ministry of Women Affairs and Ministry of Justice. The Attorney General of Plateau State, Hon. Philemon Dafi, serves as the chairman of the taskforce.
The taskforce field team in the state hit at the famous Waste of Mines, Mista-Ali, Utan area of Jos North and the popular Old Airport junction all within the metropolitan city of Jos in midnight operations where people were arrested, mostly young people with various substances and drugs. Some female minors were picked while hanging around, waiting for customers.
While briefing journalists about the remarkable successes recorded, Dafi disclosed that 16 minors (nine males, seven female) were arrested as well as a person living with disability. He said: “The Taskforce on Anti-Human Trafficking in Plateau State have executed a surgical, multi-location raid that marks a turning point in our battle against modern-day slavery and human trafficking.
“I am here to inform you that the operation was an overwhelming success, resulting in several strategic arrests and the rescue of numerous vulnerable citizens who had been trapped in the shadows of our society.
“By leveraging data-driven intelligence and resilient operational planning, the task force has evolved into a more formidable and sophisticated force. Last night’s success proves that we are no longer just reacting we are outthinking and outmaneuvering the syndicates who mistakenly believed that Plateau was a safe haven for their depravity.
“Let there be no ambiguity, child prostitution is human trafficking. It is a grave violation of human rights that this administration will no longer treat as a mere social issue or vagrancy problem. It is a heinous crime against humanity.”
The operation is the third of its kind since their inauguration. The chairman of the taskforce maintained that the success of the operation followed their resolve to meticulously audit their previous operations, identify where their strategies were weak and where traffickers found gaps to exploit.
“We have turned those hard-learned lessons and past weaknesses into the bedrock of our current tactical framework. We secured the arrest of three pregnant women, one is having six months pregnancy.
“We also took into custody 16 female minors, 41 female adults, 123 male adults, and one person with disability, making a total of 184 persons currently in custody. All are being profiled, and those found culpable will face the full weight of the law.
“When a minor is involved, there is no such thing as consent. There is only exploitation, coercion, and a gross violation of the Child Rights Law. We are done with soft language.
“And to the adults who patronize these children, let me warn you: you are not customers. You are predators. You are the demand that fuels this evil, and you are as guilty as the traffickers themselves.”
The chairman of the taskforce hinted at government’s resolve to confiscate assets or demolish property used for such crime in the state going forward.
“To the owners of establishments and individuals harboring minors for profit, your business is a cancer in our economy. For too long, certain establishments have turned a blind eye or provided infrastructure for this evil, viewing it as a profitable venture.
“We are here to change that permanently. Under our statutory powers and relevant criminal laws, the following consequences are now in immediate effect for any property found complicit in these acts.
“First, sealing and seizure. Such establishments will be shut down immediately, and assets within may be forfeited to the Plateau State government. Second is demolition: Where structures are found to be dedicated to these illicit activities, they will be demolished,” he warned
The taskforce firmly posited that the family is the sacred fabric of the society, the fortress meant to protect children. But, however, expressed regrets with a heartbreaking trend where traffickers shatter the fabric for cold profit. He warned that the law will not tolerate betrayal of responsibility by parents henceforth.
“To family members who sell their own kin into modern-day bondage under the guise of financial opportunity or greener pastures hear me clearly. Poverty is not an excuse for the commodification of a human being. The state will bring the full weight of justice upon any relative or family member complicit in trafficking their own blood.
“We are moving against parental negligence. Parents who abandon their duty of care, leaving their wards at the mercy of the streets and traffickers, will be held criminally liable. We will prosecute parents who fail to protect their children to the full extent of the law. If you will not protect your children, the state will and we will hold you accountable.
“As a taskforce, we are serious and fully dedicated to achieving these objectives and earning the trust of well-meaning citizens of this state.”
Other News
Dafi further explained that the task force is constantly strengthening its capabilities through lessons from past operations, specialized training, and improved infrastructure to monitor the borders of the state and key facilities.
“To citizens of Plateau state, we are committed to ensuring your families remain safe and strong. To the survivors and affected families. We are developing frameworks for your recovery and reintegration, your resilience inspires us.
“To the traffickers, recruiters, and enablers of wrongdoing against our collective future, I say this without hesitation, we are coming for you.
“You may adapt new methods to evade the law. You may use technology to hide your tracks or shift your routes. You may deploy vast resources in pursuit of your evil. But understand this we are growing faster than you. We are developing the capacity to adapt swiftly and ensure your operations remain disrupted and your success minimal.
“Know this: because we are doing the just work of protecting the innocent and upholding justice, you are bound to lose in the end. You are fighting against the law, against the collective will of our people, and against justice itself.”
He said the taskforce is mindful of the right of every individual and will not trampled upon them. “The rights of all persons in custody are protected and will be upheld strictly within the confines of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“We are confident that any claims arising from this operation will not stand, because we operated squarely within the ambit of the law. I personally led the team in my capacity as Attorney General, and I will never supervise or condone illegality.
“The minors will be treated strictly in accordance with the law. The law is very clear and unambiguous about how minors are to be handled. There is no confusion in that regard. Every necessary legal and welfare provision will be applied appropriately.”
The chairman further expressed their determination to extend the operation to various council areas of the state by ensuring that there is no hiding place for traffickers.
“We are operating within the limits of our current budgetary provisions. As soon as additional resources are made available, this operation will be expanded. No local government area will be left out of these efforts.
“Let me be clear, where offences are established, arrests will be made. We remain committed to enforcing the law consistently and without compromise. Let me also put this on record clearly, without mincing words and without fear of controversy: more than three-quarters of the male suspects arrested identified themselves as being from Adamawa State, specifically from Michika local government area.
“That is based on the information they personally provided during profiling. In addition, there are other Nigerians from different parts of the country who are also among those arrested and also some foreigners one from Niger Republic and one from Cameroon,” he stated
The Plateau State Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP), Mr. Alexander Adole, in an interview with Daily Sun disclosed that human trafficking of minors in the state is on the rise.
He noted that the operation was a huge success, carried out inline with the mandate of the National Taskforce of NAPTIP which were constituted across the states of the federation with each Attorney General of a state as chairman of the taskforce.
He commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for supporting the taskforce to function optimally.
He further explained that the operation actually recorded three foreign nationals from Cameroon (one of the pregnant suspects), Chad and Niger Republic were among those arrested by the taskforce in the midnight crackdown.
“Actually, the taskforce is a National Taskforce constituted by the National Headquarters of NAPTIP across the states of the federation and the FCT. Each Attorney General of the state is the chairman of the taskforce in each state.
“For us on the Plateau, this operation was so wonderful unlike the last ones where so many errors were recorded. It has helped us to get it right this time around and we will sustain it by the grace of God because human trafficking in Plateau State is still very high, especially the trafficking of minors.
“From the raid we carried out Friday night up to Saturday, there were three foreign nationals. One of the pregnant woman is from Cameroon, another from Chad and one from Niger Republic. The government of Adamawa State will also be contacted over it’s people,” he explained
The Chairperson of the Gender and Equal Opportunity Commission, Olivia Dazem described the operation as a great relief for the state and the relentless efforts of the Commission to get rid of the ugly social trend happening at various locations in the state. She said the successful execution of the operation has proven that the problem are multidimensional with one leading to another hence the resolve to further strengthen the mechanism of rehabilitating the vulnerable ones.
“This operation is part of the governor’s broader vision to strengthen and reform the social protection system in the state. This is the third or fourth in a series of such exercises, all aimed at sanitizing Plateau State of social vices.
“From our presentations, you will see that this is a multidimensional problem. You have seen the destruction of drugs that were recovered. The mop-up operation involved narcotics affecting our young people both males and females, none excluded,” she explained
Dazem maintained that the social challenges were interconnected as evidently seen from the operation where drug abuse entangled with prostitution leading to teenage pregnancies among other social vices.
She said: “In the cases we handled last night, three of the ladies were pregnant. The usual story is, ‘I don’t know who is responsible.’ Or they mention someone who then denies responsibility. These are the kinds of difficult realities we face.
“Out of the three pregnant women, only one is an adult. The other two are very young girls. So, part of our intervention going forward is to ensure that these young ladies are given proper shelter and counseling, and opportunities for rehabilitation.
“The presence of the media here is very important. Our people need to understand that we can no longer abdicate parental responsibility. Many of these cases are direct consequences of parental neglect.
“We hear painful stories from these children, some were saying: ‘My parents are not together.’ ‘I don’t know where my mother is.’ ‘I’ve been living alone and trying to fend for myself.’ These are heartbreaking realities. And honestly, this is a call to duty for parents. Now more than ever, parents must draw closer to their children.
“Let me also assure the people of Plateau State that the taskforce is poised and ready to do more. With the level of institutional collaboration that supported this operation and others before it, we are confident that we can achieve meaningful change.
“By the grace of God, Plateau State is on the path to overcoming these challenges. The stories of prostitution, drug addiction, and human trafficking we believe will gradually become a thing of the past.”
