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Rising Child Trafficking Cases Spark Alarm Across Plateau

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Growing concerns are mounting over the increasing cases of child trafficking linked to Plateau State, with stakeholders warning that the situation has evolved into a major humanitarian and security challenge.

In recent years, security agencies have intercepted and rescued more than a thousand vulnerable children allegedly trafficked from the state to various parts of Nigeria and neighbouring countries, including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Togo and Benin Republic. Many of the victims were reportedly destined for forced labour, domestic servitude and sexual exploitation.

Data gathered from rescue operations indicate that over 85 percent of trafficked children originate from the Langtang North and South axis, a trend that continues to puzzle authorities and community leaders. Some of the rescued victims were reportedly as young as two years old.

Officials and child rights advocates say organized trafficking networks often exploit poverty-stricken rural communities, disguising themselves as religious leaders, NGO workers, education agents or even relatives. They reportedly lure parents with promises of education, jobs and better living conditions for their children, only to subject them to exploitation elsewhere.

In one incident last year, security operatives intercepted a group of trafficked children in an Abuja suburb while they were being transported to Lagos. The local government chairman from the affected community described the development as alarming, lamenting that Plateau had become a major source point for child trafficking.

Authorities say some cases have also involved allegations of organ harvesting, further heightening fears among residents and advocacy groups.

A major breakthrough occurred when police arrested a clergyman in Jos South who allegedly ran a trafficking network spanning several local government areas. Investigations revealed that recruiters linked to the syndicate operated in communities affected by poverty and communal violence.

Reacting to the growing trend, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Caroline Panglang Dafur, reportedly expressed deep concern after another group of underage children was rescued while being transported out of the state.

Civil society organizations have also intensified advocacy efforts. Apostle Jack Mamven Light, founder of the Itarok Development Foundation, said his group has rescued and repatriated over 100 victims and conducted sensitization campaigns in vulnerable communities.

He noted that many rescued children had been forced into farm labour across several states, including Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos and Rivers, where they worked long hours under harsh conditions.

Child rights activist Grace Jonah attributed the rise in trafficking to a mix of poverty, insecurity, displacement and parental neglect, noting that traffickers often operate as coordinated cartels.

She warned that prolonged communal conflicts and economic hardship in rural communities have made many families vulnerable to deception, increasing the likelihood that children will be trafficked under the guise of opportunity.

Stakeholders are now calling for stronger law enforcement collaboration, expanded public awareness campaigns and sustained community-level interventions to curb the growing menace.

Agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other partners continue to coordinate rescue and prevention efforts, but advocates say more sustained action is urgently needed.

 

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‘APC is confused’ – Isaac Fayose mocks Wike’s appointment as campaign coordinator

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Isaac Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has mocked the All Progressives Congress, APC, over Nyesom Wike’s appointment as campaign coordinator of the FCT and Rivers State.

In a video posted on his verified Facebook page, Fayose said the APC is already confused ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the APC’s recent political maneuvers will not undermine the momentum and the electoral prospect of the Obidients or the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

“The situation is critical for the APC. Early this morning, they weakly announced Wike to head the campaign in Rivers State and Abuja, just after my video. If you can’t convince them, you can confuse them. They are already confused.

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“My Obidients, the five governors I earlier said are still with us. They are standing with us. We are going to defeat Wike in Rivers and in Abuja. If they like let them appoint him and reappoint him.

“He will lose in Abuja. He will lose in Rivers because already we are stronger in Rivers and Abuja than the APC,” he said.

Recall that Fayose had said five APC governors are secretly supporting the NDC ahead of the 2027 polls.

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FG Issues Three-Day Weather Forecast, Predicts Nationwide Thunderstorms, Rain

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The Federal Government has issued a three-day weather forecast warning Nigerians to expect thunderstorms and rainfall across several parts of the country from Monday through Wednesday.

The warning was contained in the latest weather outlook released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in Abuja.

According to the report, there will be varying degrees of rainfall across the northern, North-Central and southern regions.

NiMet also warned that strong winds could occur before thunderstorms in some areas, urging residents to take precautions as the rainy conditions develop.

According to the agency, parts of Taraba, Kebbi and Niger states are expected to experience morning thunderstorms and light rainfall on Monday. The southern region is expected to remain largely cloudy, with isolated showers possible in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

Later in the afternoon and evening, NiMet forecast moderate rainfall and scattered thunderstorms across the North-East, Kaduna, the North-Central region and several southern states.

The weather conditions are expected to continue into Tuesday, with thunderstorms and light-to-moderate rainfall forecast across most parts of the northern region.

NiMet also listed parts of the North-Central region, including the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau states, among areas that could experience thunderstorms and rainfall.

Several parts of the southern region are also expected to record rainfall on Tuesday, with similar weather conditions forecast to persist through Wednesday.

The agency warned that thunderstorms could be accompanied by strong winds, particularly before the onset of rainfall.

NiMet advised members of the public to secure loose objects around their homes and other locations because such objects could be blown away by strong winds.

It also urged motorists to exercise caution and avoid driving during periods of heavy rainfall, particularly when visibility is reduced or roads become difficult to navigate.

“Driving under heavy rain should be avoided,” the agency said.

Residents were further advised to stay away from tall trees during thunderstorms because strong winds could break branches or bring down trees.

NiMet also urged Nigerians to disconnect electrical appliances from power sockets during thunderstorms to reduce the risk associated with lightning and electrical surges.

File Photo: Thunderstorm
File Photo: Thunderstorm

“Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical sockets. Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees,” the agency said.

Airline operators were also advised to obtain site-specific weather information from NiMet to support safe planning of flight operations during the forecast period.

The latest forecast is similar to weather warnings previously issued by NiMet during the rainy season.

In a three-day forecast issued in August, the agency had also predicted thunderstorms and moderate rainfall across different parts of the country, with the affected areas varying from day to day.

During that period, NiMet forecast sunny conditions with patches of clouds and possible early morning thunderstorms across parts of the northern region. Light rainfall was expected in areas including Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Borno, Taraba and Adamawa states.

The agency subsequently predicted thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall across several parts of the North later in the afternoon and evening.

For the North-Central region, the August outlook also included possible thunderstorms and moderate rainfall over parts of Kwara, Niger, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory.

The southern region was expected to remain predominantly cloudy, with rainfall forecast in parts of Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom in the morning and moderate rainfall expected in several other southern states later in the day.

The agency similarly forecast thunderstorms and rainfall across parts of the North and North-Central regions on the following days, while the southern states were expected to experience cloudy conditions and varying levels of rainfall.

NiMet’s latest warning comes as rainfall continues to pose risks to communities vulnerable to flooding and other weather-related hazards.

Residents in flood-prone locations are advised to remain alert, particularly where rainfall becomes prolonged or intense. Motorists are also expected to exercise caution on roads affected by flooding and avoid attempting to cross moving floodwater.

NiMet urged the public to continue monitoring official weather updates throughout the three-day period, particularly in areas where thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected.

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