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Human trafficking: Security operatives rescue two pregnant women, nursing mother, seven minors in Plateau

Published

3 months ago

June 6, 2026

Preport

Security operatives on Thursday, successfully rescued two pregnant women, one nursing mother and eight children from suspected human traffickers at a motor park in Zawan Junction located in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The victims were allegedly being trafficked illegally to work in mining camps in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Special Adviser to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Gender and Chairperson of the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, Olivia Dazyam, who confirmed the incident while briefing journalists at the Commission’s headquarters in Jos, said three of the suspects were also arrested during the operation which she led after getting credible information on the operations of a human trafficking syndicate at the illegal motor park.

Dazyam said the rescue operation further exposed what she described as a decade-long trafficking operation that had quietly consumed the futures of scores of Plateau children and young women.

She stated that the Commission acted on a tip-off from a Zawan community member regarding an illegal park that operated only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“A member of the Zawan community drew our attention to what, according to him, looked like an illegal motor park.

“He wanted to find out if we knew about the existence of that park, and he gave me the information that the park operates only on Thursdays and Tuesdays.

“He said that on Thursdays, the syndicate would convey passengers to a location in Ibadan and on Tuesdays, they would bring back some people into that park, and drop them there,” she said.

Dazyam said during a discreet investigation carried out by her agency, it was discovered that the victims were usually children with some of them as young as 11 years old who were taken to the mining sites and forced into hard labour.

She explained that she and her team visited the site and found five vehicles loading passengers for what appeared to be a night journey.

“When we got to the illegal park, we discovered persons below 18 years who were about to travel. We were told that there is a mining pond in Ibadan, Oyo State, where the victims are being recruited to go and serve as labourers on those mining camps,” she said.

She said the conditions awaiting the victims amounted to bonded labour as they are made to work six days for their handlers and keep only one day’s earnings for themselves.

“How are you working six days of your life for some people, then only one day is for you? It means that even if you remain in Plateau State, you can actually work for the seven days for yourself, and you will gain something,” she said.

“I understand from what the informant told me that it is a chain of beneficiaries from this. They have to share the money of their labor for other beneficiaries, and this is why it is exploitative.

“All of them were to be transported, they are not the ones to pay the transport fare. It is when they arrive, probably they are able to deliver them in Ibadan in the mining communities before they pay them.

“A parent of the rescued victim got here and said he doesn’t know that two of his children are traveling. He doesn’t know, so what do you know about your children?” Dazyam asked.

Related Topics:Human minors mother Nursing operatives plateau Pregnant Rescue security trafficking women

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Enugu 2026 Mascot Unveiled as Olopade Promises Biggest-Ever National Sports Festival

Published

3 hours ago

August 28, 2026

Preport

The official mascot and logo of the 23rd National Sports Festival, tagged “Coal City Games, Enugu 2026,” have been unveiled in Enugu, with the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, promising that the Games will be the biggest and highest-sponsored edition in the history of the Festival.

The mascot was unveiled on Friday by the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, who represented Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah at the ceremony.

The event marked a major milestone in preparations for the National Sports Festival, scheduled to hold in Enugu from November 27 to December 11, 2026.

Olopade, who is also Chairman of the Main Organising Committee of the Games, said the unveiling of the mascot and logo was an important stage in the build-up to the Festival because it would help generate nationwide awareness, excitement and anticipation.

He said the mascot would become a symbol through which the message and spirit of the Coal City Games would be taken from Enugu to every part of Nigeria.

According to him, the National Sports Festival should belong to all Nigerians and should not be permanently associated with any particular region of the country.

Olopade said after 28 years, it was time to demonstrate that the Festival could move around the country and give different states the opportunity to showcase their sporting facilities, talents and cultural heritage.

He said Enugu 2026 was therefore designed to demonstrate that the National Sports Festival was a truly national event capable of uniting Nigerians through sports.

The NSC Director-General said the hosting of the Games in Enugu was particularly significant to him because the state is his home state.

“For me personally as the DG now, this means the world to me that we have brought back the National Sports Festival to my home state, Enugu State,” he said.

Olopade recalled that before becoming Director-General of the NSC, he was involved in sports management and had participated in efforts to encourage states to bid for the hosting rights of the National Sports Festival.

He said Enugu’s successful bid therefore represented a significant personal and professional milestone for him.

The NSC boss said the Commission was not only focused on delivering a successful Festival but was also determined to ensure that the Games left behind a lasting legacy in sports infrastructure and development.

He disclosed that work was ongoing on several facilities, including the swimming pool and sports halls, as part of preparations for the Games.

Olopade said the Commission was working closely with the Enugu State Government and other stakeholders to ensure that the necessary facilities were completed ahead of the Festival.

“Our ambition is clear: to deliver the most organised, most competitive and most memorable National Sports Festival ever held,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the continued support of the Federal Government, noting that the Festival provided an important platform for showcasing Nigeria’s sporting talents and facilities.

Olopade commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support for sports development and praised Governor Peter Mbah for his commitment to the successful hosting of the Games.

He also acknowledged the contributions of members of the Main Organising Committee, the Local Organising Committee, directors and staff of the National Sports Commission, as well as other stakeholders involved in the preparations.

The Director-General particularly expressed appreciation to Premium Trust Bank, the headline sponsor of the Festival, and other corporate partners for their support.

He described the 2026 edition as the biggest and highest-sponsored National Sports Festival ever, saying the growing involvement of the private sector was an indication of increasing confidence in sports as a vehicle for youth development and national transformation.

Olopade said the contribution of Premium Trust Bank and other sponsors would help strengthen the Games and create greater opportunities for Nigerian youths.

He stressed that the success of the Festival would depend on the collective efforts of the Federal Government, the host state, sponsors, organisers and other stakeholders.

The Deputy Governor, Ossai, who represented Governor Mbah, formally unveiled the mascot and logo, further signalling Enugu State’s readiness to host athletes and officials from across the country.

The 23rd National Sports Festival will be historic for Enugu State as it will be the first time the state is hosting the National Sports Festival.

With the unveiling of the mascot and logo, the Coal City Games have entered another critical phase, with organisers expected to intensify preparations around sporting facilities, accommodation, transportation, security and other logistics ahead of the opening.

The Festival is expected to bring together athletes from across Nigeria in a celebration of sports, youth, culture and national unity, while providing a major platform for discovering and nurturing the next generation of Nigerian sporting talents.

Business

Nigeria Records 65,000 Suspected Cholera Cases, Over 10,000 Diphtheria Cases

Published

4 hours ago

August 28, 2026

Preport

Nigeria is facing significant outbreaks of cholera and diphtheria, with more than 65,000 suspected cholera cases recorded across 35 states and about 195 Local Government Areas. More than 10,000 confirmed diphtheria cases have also been reported in 2026.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed the figures in Abuja while providing an update on the country’s response to both outbreaks.

The NCDC has intensified disease surveillance and deployed National Rapid Response Teams to affected states, including Borno, which has recorded the highest number of cholera cases. Teams are investigating transmission sources and assessing water, sanitation and chlorination gaps.

To control cholera, authorities are bringing treatment closer to affected communities while expanding oral rehydration points, strengthening treatment centres, improving water chlorination and conducting oral cholera vaccination in high-burden areas.

The response to diphtheria is focused on reactive vaccination, early detection and treatment, particularly in Kano, Borno and Bauchi, where cases remain concentrated. Healthcare workers have also been urged to quickly identify, report and manage suspected cases.

The NCDC stressed that federal intervention alone cannot end the outbreaks. States and Local Governments must strengthen immunisation, improve access to safe water and sanitation, repair critical infrastructure and ensure communities have adequate treatment and rapid-response services.

Although declining cholera cases and improved survival rates are encouraging, the NCDC warned against complacency. Communities are advised to use safe water, practise good hygiene, prepare food safely and seek medical attention early. Anyone with frequent watery diarrhoea should begin oral rehydration immediately and visit a health facility, while parents and caregivers should ensure children are fully vaccinated against diphtheria.

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