The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued 184 suspected victims of human trafficking during recent operations in Plateau State, as authorities step up efforts to dismantle trafficking networks operating within and beyond the state.

Anne Felix, Acting Head of Counselling and Rehabilitation at NAPTIP’s Plateau Command, disclosed the figure on Tuesday in Jos during the quarterly meeting of the Plateau State Action Plan Implementation Committee on Women, Peace and Security, alongside a validation workshop for Local Action Plans in Jos South, Mangu and Wase LGAs.

“From the last quarter till now, we have carried out targeted raids to curb human trafficking. In Jos, we rescued 184 persons,” Felix said, noting that the victims included boys, girls, teenagers and three pregnant women.

She added that five of the rescued persons are currently undergoing rehabilitation in NAPTIP facilities, while several suspects have already been prosecuted.

“In December last year, we secured convictions against some traffickers who are now serving jail terms,” she said.

Felix further revealed that in January, the agency intercepted another group of victims who were being transported to Akure in Ondo State. They were rescued and reunited with their families, while the suspects are facing prosecution.

Pattern of exploitation

The latest rescue follows earlier crackdowns on trafficking in the state. On 30 December 2025, PREMIUM TIMES reported that a coordinated overnight raid on brothels and hotels across the Jos–Bukuru axis uncovered organised child sexual exploitation, with minors aged between 11 and 17 rescued from lodges and brothels.

At the time, the Plateau State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Daffi, linked children’s vulnerability to poverty, insecurity and family breakdown, describing the situation as “a mirror of what our society has become.”

Previous cases also underscore the scale of the problem. In September 2025, the state government rescued 16 children allegedly trafficked from Bassa LGA to Anambra State, while in January 2025 two underaged children from Langtang South were intercepted at a motor park in Jos en route to Lagos.

Civil society organisations warn that displacement caused by insecurity and worsening economic hardship has made many families vulnerable to trafficking schemes.

Strengthening community response

Tuesday’s workshop focused on improving the implementation of Plateau State’s Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

Sesan Peter of the University of Jos said the Local Action Plans are designed to bring reporting and response mechanisms closer to rural communities.

“The plans allow women at the grassroots to report security threats and access support without necessarily travelling long distances,” he said.

Lantana Abdullahi, Executive Director of Women for Positive Peacebuilding Initiative, said the state is implementing a third-generation action plan built on five pillars: prevention, protection, participation, relief and recovery.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Rebecca Shasset, stressed that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without women’s participation, describing them as “critical agents of reconciliation and pillars of community resilience.”

National dimension

The developments in Plateau reflect broader national anti-trafficking efforts. In May 2025, NAPTIP received 78 Nigerian trafficking victims rescued from Côte d’Ivoire, many of them young women and girls.

While enforcement through raids, prosecutions and rehabilitation is increasing, advocates insist that long-term solutions will require stronger community safeguards, economic support for vulnerable families and sustained awareness of protective laws.

For now, the rescue of 184 persons highlights the continued presence of trafficking networks in Plateau, even as authorities pledge tougher action against perpetrators.