The growing prevalence of human trafficking in Plateau State has alarmed stakeholders, including the Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS).
Addressing journalists in Jos, CWEENS National Coordinator, Prof. Oluwafunmilayo Para-Mallam, described the situation as a crisis requiring urgent intervention. She highlighted a recent operation by the Joint Task Force and Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), which uncovered a major trafficking syndicate.
“On December 2, 2024, acting on credible intelligence, a woman named Nanman Pungtel was arrested at Old Airport Junction, Jos, with three children she could not account for. Further investigation led to the arrest of the mastermind, Pastor Dayo Bernard of End Time Army Ministry in Bukuru. That same night, five children aged 2 to 4, abducted from homes in Kwande, Qua’an Pan LGA, were rescued,” Para-Mallam explained.
Three other syndicate members—Rita Agboeze, Victoria Ugwu, and Peter Ukwuani—were also arrested. Pastor Bernard confessed to abducting and selling 13 children from Plateau State for amounts ranging from ₦350,000 to ₦750,000.
In December, CWEENS sheltered and provided psychological care for 17 trafficked children, including 13 rescued locally and four brought in from Mali and Ghana. All victims have since been reunited with their families through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
CWEENS called for a comprehensive approach to tackling trafficking by addressing root causes such as poverty and unemployment. The group recommended livelihood programs for vulnerable families, stricter enforcement of anti-trafficking laws, and enhanced collaboration between law enforcement, the judiciary, and child protection agencies.
CWEENS outlined several measures to combat trafficking, including:
– Establishing child protection watch groups in communities to identify and report suspicious activities.
– Creating toll-free hotlines for reporting trafficking cases.
– Equipping rapid response teams to prevent abductions and rescue victims effectively.
“We must reaffirm our commitment to creating a society where every child is valued, protected, and given the opportunity to thrive,” Para-Mallam stated.
She urged all stakeholders—families, communities, civil society, and the government—to work collectively to dismantle trafficking networks and protect children from exploitation.