The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued 184 victims of human trafficking in Plateau State, including three pregnant women.
The Acting Head of Counselling and Rehabilitation at NAPTIP in Plateau State, Anne Felix, revealed this during an interview in Jos on Tuesday. She spoke on the sidelines of the Quarterly Meeting of the third Plateau State Action Plan Implementation Committee on Women, Peace and Security, as well as a validation workshop for Local Action Plans covering Jos South, Mangu and Wase Local Government Areas.
Felix stated that the agency had intensified efforts to combat human trafficking across the state and beyond.
“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.”
The workshop, according to organisers, was designed to strengthen women’s protection, participation and leadership in peacebuilding and security initiatives. Stakeholders reviewed and validated grassroots action plans aimed at addressing security threats and supporting women affected by conflict.
A facilitator and lead researcher from the University of Jos, Dr Sesan Peter, explained that the Local Action Plans build upon the State Action Plan by establishing reporting channels at community and zonal levels. These channels enable women to report security threats, access support services and contribute to peacebuilding efforts.
He noted that women often shoulder significant economic and social responsibilities during periods of conflict, caring for families while facing increased 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.
The Executive Director of the Women for Positive Peacebuilding Initiative (WOPPI), Lantana Bako Abdullahi, observed 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 and remain inclusive, realistic and affordable for adoption by local authorities.
Permanent Secretary in the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Rebecca Shasset, stressed that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the active involvement of women. She described women as vital agents of reconciliation and pillars of community resilience.
Participants also advocated greater public awareness of key legislation, including the State Action Plan, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and the Gender and Equal Opportunities Law.
The initiative is supported by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria Programme (SPRiNG), funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and implemented by Tetra Tech International Development, with WOPPI serving as the local implementing partner.