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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission on Thursday rescued five children who were billed to be trafficked to Calabar, Cross Rivers State.
This feat, the agency said, was achieved in collaboration with security agencies. The traffickers were arrested at Ngo Tallatu Jang motor park in Jos where the suspects, whose names were given as Lydia Bulus, Linda Monday and Esther Solomon, intended to . board a vehicle to their destination
It was gathered that three of the children were from Utan community in Jos North local government area, while the other two (twins) hail from Irigwe chiefdom in Bassa local council
Chairperson of the Commission, Olivia Dazyam, addressing newsmen in Jos on Thursday, expressed sadness that despite awareness campaigns, people are still engaging in human trafficking.
She said “This morning together with the wife of the chairman of Bassa local government, and staff of NAPTIP, we acted on a tip-off and rescued these children.
She said that the suspects would be prosecuted according to the law, adding, “The law is clear. child trafficking is a serious offense. I want to call on the people of Plateau State to unite and say no to these activities.
“Virtually all our local governments have perpetrators, and we must work together to fish them out,” she said.
The Commission has appealed to local governments, especially those considered hot spots, to cooperate in the fight against human trafficking.
The chairperson praised the wife of the chairman of Bassa local government area, Mrs Miriam Roti, for her prompt response to the situation.
While stating that investigation is ongoing, she said that the suspects would be interrogated to get more information on the trafficking network.
She urged parents to follow due process when adopting or relocating children, saying, “Poverty is not an excuse for releasing your child to somebody you don’t know.”
The Commission has vowed to continue its efforts to combat human trafficking and protect the rights of children in Plateau State.
Wife of the Chairman of Bassa Local chairman, Mrs Miriam Riti, said, she got a call concerning the trafficking of some children from her local government. So she rushed to the gender commission.
She expressed regrets at the reoccurring incidents of child trafficking, especially from Bassa, saying, “It’s really, really disheartening that in Bassa local government, this kind of cases keeps reoccurring, despite the awareness campaign, the effort, the little empowerment we give to the parents to enable them do something so that they can make a little sacrifice for their children.”
