NAPTIP rescues three pregnant women, 181 trafficked victims in Plateau

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has rescued 184 victims of human trafficking in Plateau State, with three pregnant women among those freed.

The Acting Head of Counselling and Rehabilitation at NAPTIP in Plateau State, Anne Felix, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH in Jos, Tuesday, on the sidelines of the Quarterly Meeting of the third Plateau state Action Plan Implementation Committee on Women, Peace and Security and  Validation workshop for Local Action Plans for Jos South, Mangu and Wase LGAs.

She said the agency had made significant efforts to eradicate human trafficking in the state and other parts of the country.

Felix said, “From the last quarter till now, one of the things we have done is that we have been able to go on raids to be able to eradicate human trafficking.

We raided some places in Jos where we were able to rescue 184 people. Out of the total, we realised that three of them are pregnant. We have boys and girls, as well as teenagers and those under 18.

“And out of the 184, we were able to get five people who are currently going through rehabilitation in our centres. Some of the perpetrators, we were able to talk with their states about mediation and other things. Then, we were also able to convict some perpetrators of human trafficking last December.

“They are currently serving their jail term in prison, while the survivors of human trafficking have been empowered with something to do. Last Month, January, we were able to rescue some victims who were on their way to Akure for trafficking. Fortunately, we were able to reunite them with their families while the suspects were undergoing prosecution.”

Our correspondent reports that the workshop aimed to strengthen women’s protection, participation, and leadership in peacebuilding and security matters, with stakeholders validating grassroots plans to address security threats and support women in conflict situations.

A facilitator and Lead researcher, Dr. Sesan Peter from the University of Jos, explained that the Local Action Plans build on the State Action Plan by creating channels at community and zonal levels for women to report security threats, access assistance, and participate in peace efforts.

He highlighted that women often bear heavy economic and social burdens during conflicts, caring for families while facing heightened risks of sexual violence and displacement.

“The plans enable reporting and support to women at the grassroots without the need to travel to Jos, which is quite a distance,” he said.

Executive Director of WOPPI, Lantana Bako Abdullahi, noted that Plateau is among the few states implementing a third-generation State Action Plan.

“The current focus is on practical work across five pillars: prevention, protection, participation, relief, and recovery.

She added that the validation process ensures the local plans align with state policy, remain inclusive, realistic, and affordable for local governments to adopt,” she said.

Permanent Secretary in the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Rebecca Shasset, emphasised that genuine peace is impossible without women’s active involvement.

She described women as key agents of reconciliation and pillars of community strength.

Representatives from security and social agencies shared progress updates, while community groups highlighted empowerment programmes for women and girls.

Participants also called for increased public education on key laws, including the State Action Plan, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, and the Gender and Equal Opportunities Law.

Our Correspondent reports that the initiative is supported by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and implemented by Tetra Tech International Development, with Women for Positive Peacebuilding Initiative as the local implementing partner.

culled from punch