The Plateau State Government says it has repatriated 14 young children who were trafficked from the State to Lagos State South West Nigeria.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs Miss Caroline Dafur who received the minors on behalf of the State Government disclosed this in Jos the State Capital.
Speaking to newsmen, Dufur said she was saddened by the reoccurrence of the inhumane behaviour by the criminal and more worrisome was the parental negligence exhibited by some of the parents.
She said; “Plateau people are known for courage and handiwork and therefore Economic hardships shouldn’t be an excuse to trade human lives and the destinies of our young girls. Since I assumed office as Commissioner, I have had cause to successfully repatriate girls from Edo State and now Lagos State.”
Dafur said that the perpetrators of the babaric act of trafficking were in custody.
“The Parents and families are also going to be invited for full investigation so that these illegal activities are not normalised in Plateau. I am glad to announce to you that we would not just reunite these girls to thier families but we are offering them full education and skill acquisition scholarships to better their lives and secure thier future,” She stressed.
Dafur called on parents to be more aware and desist from releasing thier children for exploitative reasons.
The Plateau State Commandant of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons Naptip, Mr. Aldole Agada who handed over the children to the State Government said they were rescued by its Zonal Command in Ikeja, Lagos.
He stated that the situation was a clear case of child labour and exploitation.
“Since I assumed office internal and external trafficking has been on the rise. A total of 178 children have been rescued in the last two years. “he said.
Agada explained that the Children who are between the age of 13 and 17 all hailed from Riyom Local Government Area of the state.
He said NAPTIP had put modalities in place to curb the situation, but also called on the State Government to support its efforts with logistics for efficient service delivery.
The Special Adviser on Gender and Chairperson Implementation Committee of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, Mrs. Olivia Dazyem explained that the situation required all hands on deck.
She called for partnership and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure that issues that has to do with Women, Children and also the vulnerable will take centre stage.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
