The Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission (GEOC) has raised alarm over the rising cases of child trafficking across the state, warning that the situation has reached an “extremely disturbing” level requiring urgent, collective action.

Speaking during a press briefing to mark the Commission’s two-year anniversary in Jos, Chairperson, Barr. Olivia Dazyem, said child trafficking has become one of the most rampant forms of abuse threatening the safety and future of Plateau children. She disclosed that minors are now trafficked daily to major cities across the country and, in some cases, taken outside Nigeria.

Dazyem noted that the spike in cases prompted the Commission to launch an aggressive sensitization campaign across all 17 local government areas, targeting schools in the three senatorial zones. The outreach, she explained, focused on educating students on the methods used by traffickers, the dangers of child labour, and the value of staying in school.

“We chose to go directly to the students because they are the primary targets,” she said. “Some of the confessions and experiences shared during our engagements were shocking and heartbreaking. The threat is more widespread and more sophisticated than many people realize.”

177 Children Rescued, Trafficking Rings Disrupted

As part of its intensified operations, the Commission prevented 106 children from being trafficked and facilitated the return of 46 children already taken from their homes. GEOC also uncovered several cases involving the sale of babies and rescued 25 children from forced labour.

“These numbers show that we are confronting a severe national crisis with real consequences here on the Plateau,” Dazyem said. “Child trafficking is not just a crime—it is a violation of human dignity and a direct threat to our future.”

Community, Religious and Traditional Leaders Engaged

To strengthen vigilance at the grassroots, GEOC engaged religious leaders, women’s groups, community development associations and traditional rulers across the state. Dazyem said the engagements aimed to dispel harmful cultural and spiritual beliefs that indirectly encourage child exploitation, family breakdown and lack of parental responsibility.

“We visited churches and places of worship to preach the importance of protecting children and maintaining family unity. The response was encouraging, and many leaders pledged their support,” she added.

Capacity Building for Stakeholders

The Commission also trained social welfare directors, women development officers, mediators and information officers across the 17 LGAs on how to identify, document and refer cases of trafficking and gender-based violence. Journalists were trained on gender-sensitive reporting to improve public awareness and responsible media coverage.

Call for Stronger Community Vigilance

Dazyem urged parents, traditional rulers, security agencies and civil society to remain alert and report suspicious movements involving children, stressing that the fight cannot be won by the Commission alone.

“Child trafficking is a collective challenge,” she said. “The lives and futures of our children depend on how quickly we act and how committed we remain as a society.”

GEOC reaffirmed its commitment to expanding school outreach programmes, deepening partnerships with traditional institutions, advocating for stronger legal safeguards and collaborating with national and international organizations to combat child trafficking and related abuses.