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The District Head of Ta-Hoss in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, Kim Nani, has disclosed that he rescued more than 40 children from human trafficking within 18 months of ascending the throne, raising concerns over the growing activities of trafficking networks in the state.
Nani described human trafficking and forced labour as major challenges confronting his community and other parts of Plateau State. He lamented that perpetrators often escape meaningful punishment and return to society after being arrested, citing human rights concerns as one of the obstacles to securing justice for victims.
The traditional ruler disclosed this in an interview with *Daily Sun* during a roundtable dialogue on gender-based violence (GBV) and human trafficking organised by the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Nigeria, at Emerald Hotel, Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The dialogue was held under the *Engaging, Coordinating and Sharing of Lessons on GBV Prevention Between Traditional Rulers, Religious and Government Leaders in Nigeria* project, supported by the Ford Foundation, to strengthen community-based responses to GBV and human trafficking.
The Country Vice President and National President of FIDA Nigeria, Eliana Martins, represented by the Plateau State Chairperson, Naankus Fyaktu, urged traditional rulers and religious leaders to sustain a united front against the twin challenges, stressing that isolated interventions would not yield the desired results.
Martins said the initiative was designed to provide a common platform for traditional institutions, religious bodies and government representatives to share experiences, coordinate interventions and develop effective strategies for tackling GBV and human trafficking.
She explained that participants had been equipped with the knowledge to identify cases, respond appropriately and understand the channels for reporting incidents, particularly criminal offences requiring formal investigation and prosecution rather than mediation.
The FIDA president urged benefiting communities to take ownership of the initiative and sustain its gains beyond the project’s lifespan, emphasising that the fight against GBV and human trafficking required collective responsibility.
“Today, you can see that we brought together traditional rulers and religious leaders to work together as a team and avoid working in isolation.
“This is not a one-person work. We believe it will help in addressing the challenges because these things happen in their communities where there are churches, mosques and traditional palaces,” she said.
Earlier, Nani expressed concern over what he described as the declining influence of traditional institutions, noting that the moral challenges confronting communities had created an environment in which human trafficking and other abuses continued to thrive.
“This engagement is timely, particularly for my own community, due to the high rate of human trafficking and induced labour. People are doing so many things thinking they are right. The moral decay we have in our society is alarming,” he lamented.
Nani further disclosed that “there is a strong network of human traffickers operating in Plateau State,” calling for stronger community vigilance and effective collaboration among relevant authorities to dismantle the networks and protect vulnerable children.
Similarly, the Imam of Angwan Rimi community in Jos North Local Government Area, Abubakar Ismail Laura, and Rev. Christopher Damchir urged residents to break the culture of silence by speaking out whenever they experience or witness GBV and human trafficking.
They stressed that increased community awareness, prompt reporting and sustained collaboration among traditional rulers, religious leaders and relevant institutions were critical to protecting vulnerable persons, bringing perpetrators to justice and ending the menace.
