The Plateau State Taskforce has successfully intercepted two underage children being trafficked from Langtang South Local Government Area to Lagos. The operation, carried out at a Lagos park in Jos, also led to the arrest of a female suspect.
Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Caroline Panglang Dafur, confirmed the incident, revealing that the children were to be “waybilled” to Lagos to work for an unknown individual. The suspect, Mrs. Manwor Ayuba, is alleged to have facilitated the trafficking.
“Child labour and exploitation are crimes on the Plateau, and we are dedicated to eliminating this menace. We urge all residents to report any suspicious activity,” Dafur stated.
Escalating Human Trafficking in Plateau
The issue of human trafficking has reached troubling levels in Plateau State, with stakeholders raising alarm over its increasing prevalence.
The Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS) has been vocal about the crisis. Prof. Oluwafunmilayo Para-Mallam, CWEENS National Coordinator, recently described the situation as dire, citing an operation in December 2024 where a woman was arrested in Jos with three children she could not account for.
Authorities continue to intensify their efforts through coordinated operations and community awareness campaigns, stressing the importance of collective action in safeguarding vulnerable children.