News

Plateau Gender Commission Raises Alarm Over Surge in Child Trafficking, Rescues 177 Children in Two Years

Published

10 months ago

November 15, 2025

vicky

Gender Commission,Child Trafficking, School Sensitization Campaigns

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.

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Green Hawks Seek First Breakthrough Against Zambia After Brutal World Cup Qualifier Start

Published

40 minutes ago

September 22, 2026

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Nigeria’s Green Hawks will turn their attention to Zambia on Tuesday as the country’s first-ever national netball team continues its historic campaign at the Africa Netball Cup and 2027 Netball World Cup African Qualifiers in Nairobi, Kenya.

The encounter presents Nigeria with another opportunity to measure its progress after a demanding welcome to international netball against three established African sides.

Nigeria began the competition with a 61–40 defeat to hosts Kenya before facing world number six Uganda, who recorded a 68–30 victory.

The Green Hawks then suffered an 82–22 loss to Malawi on Monday, leaving the Nigerian side still searching for its first victory of the tournament.

Against Malawi, Nigeria trailed 21–6 after the opening quarter before the gap widened to 40–11 at half-time.

Malawi eventually completed the contest with a 60-goal advantage and, in the process, strengthened their World Cup qualification campaign.

For Nigeria, however, the tournament represents more than immediate results.

The Green Hawks are competing internationally for the first time, with the Nairobi tournament providing the players with their first sustained exposure to some of Africa’s leading netball nations.

Nigeria’s next opponents, Zambia, therefore offer another test of how quickly the newly assembled side can adjust to competition at continental level.

With matches against Kenya, Uganda and Malawi now behind them, Tuesday’s encounter provides the Green Hawks with another opportunity to translate the experience gained from those difficult fixtures into an improved performance.

The Africa Netball Cup and World Cup African Qualifiers continue in Nairobi until September 26.

Business

Court set to hear suit on turf battle between ICAN, forensic fraud investigators institute

Published

1 hour ago

September 22, 2026

Preport

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday fixed Nov. 24 for hearing in a suit filed by the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) against the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

CIFCFIN is challenging the power of ICAN to train and issue qualifying certificates to forensic professionals.

The matter, which is before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, was initially scheduled for mention on Tuesday but the case was adjourned to enable parties appear properly before the court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CIFCFIN, through its counsel, Shaibu Aruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), sued ICAN as the sole defendant in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1559/2026.

CIFCFIN argued that ICAN cannot offer a “Certification Programme culminating in the award of Certified Forensic Accountant of Nigeria (CFAN).”

It submitted that this was in line with the combined interpretation of Sections 2(a) – (i),3(1)(a) and 4(a) – (c), 6(2), 12(2), 13, (1) () and (g), 17(1l) (a) and (b) and 22 of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (Establishment) Act No. 45, 2022,

Mohammed Arafat, the Head of Legal and Corporate Services of CIFCFIN, maintained in a supporting affidavit that ICAN’s invitation to applicants for a seven-day professional certification programme culminating in the award of Certified Forensic Accountant of Nigeria (CFAN), is outside its mandate and could confuse the general public.

The plaintiff alleged that ICAN had invited applicants in the fields of knowledge of chartered accountants, compliance managers, bankers, investment analysts, auditors, and anti-corruption agencies staff and other institutions to register for the programme.

CIFCFIN, therefore, prayed the court for an order setting aside and nullifying the award of the qualification or the CFAN certificate, or any other qualification or certificate in the field and practice of forensics in Nigeria by ICAN.

It urged the court to make an order for the defendant to withdraw, retract or cease any publication, gazette notice, or public representation asserting that it has power to certify or license.

CIFCFIN also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining ICAN, its council, etc, from issuing, advertising or recognising CFAN qualification, designation, licence or certification or any title or award identical or similar to those created under the provisions of its Act.

It further sought a declaration that “by the combined provisions of Sections 2(a) -(i), 3(1)(a) and 4(a)- (c), 6(2), 12(2), 13, (1)(0) and (g), 17(1)(a) and (b) and 22 of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (Establishment) Act No. 45. 2022, the defendant cannot offer ‘Certification Programme’ culminating in the award of CFAN.”

(NAN)