The Plateau State Government has arrested a pregnant bar operator and another woman over allegations of trafficking three young women to Ghana for prostitution.
The primary suspect, identified as Mrs. Yakubu, who operates a bar in the Rantya area of Jos, was paraded on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the headquarters of the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission alongside the three girls, who were recently repatriated from Ghana.
Two of the victims, aged between 18 and 19, are from Adamawa State, while the third is from Plateau State.
Speaking to journalists, the Commission’s chairperson, Olivia Dazyam, said the agency acted on intelligence received about the trafficking operation and collaborated with security agencies to secure the safe return of the victims.
She alleged that the suspects lured the girls abroad under false pretences and profited from their activities, which are believed to have involved forced prostitution. Dazyam also disclosed that one of the suspects’ daughters is reportedly in Ghana under similar circumstances.
The chairperson stressed that the arrests align with directives from Governor Caleb Mutfwang to expose human trafficking and deter perpetrators. She warned that traffickers would no longer operate unnoticed and called on women across the state to assist authorities in combating the crime.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the suspects’ activities, while security agencies continue efforts to dismantle trafficking networks within the state.
In an interview, Mrs. Yakubu expressed regret over her actions but claimed she believed she was helping the girls secure employment similar to that of her daughter in Ghana. She declined, however, to specify her daughter’s occupation.
The three victims — Humata Ilya, Sendy Emmanuel, and Dorathy Yakubu — contradicted the suspect’s account, stating that they were deceived and lured abroad under the promise of legitimate work. One of the girls said they were told the suspect’s daughter was involved in gold trading, only to discover upon arrival that they were being pushed into prostitution.
Both the suspects and the rescued victims have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further questioning, according to The Punch.
