Plateau Official Raises Concern Over Rising Human Trafficking As GAHTO Rescues Three Victims From Ma GBli

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The Plateau State Government has raised fresh concerns over the increasing rate of human trafficking after another two trafficked victims were handed over to them, warning that economic hardship, unemployment and deceptive promises of jobs continue to expose many young Nigerians, particularly women and children, to sexual exploitation across West African countries.

The concern was expressed during the handover of the rescued victims by the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO) to the Plateau State liaison officials in Lagos for proper handover to the state gender agency, which will rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society.

The victims, Victoria (23) from Delta State, Joy (23) from Plateau State, and Janet (22) from Plateau State, recounted how they were lured with promises of legitimate employment but were instead trafficked to Mali, where they were allegedly forced into prostitution.

Speaking during the handover, Olivia Dazyam, Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender Matters and Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, said the commission has become increasingly concerned by the growing menace of human trafficking, especially among vulnerable women and children.

According to her, many young people desperately searching for better opportunities are being deceived by traffickers posing as job recruiters or benefactors.

She noted that the prevailing economic challenges have further exposed many families to exploitation, making it easier for criminal networks to lure victims with false promises of employment, education and a better life abroad.

“As a commission, we felt it was necessary to rise to the occasion to address these issues by protecting the human rights of our people, especially women and children,” she said.

Dazyam explained that many unsuspecting parents unknowingly entrust their children to strangers who promise better opportunities, only for the victims to end up in forced labour, sexual exploitation or other forms of abuse outside the country.

She expressed appreciation to local and international partners for their continued support in rescuing trafficked victims and facilitating their safe return home.

She also commended the Governor of Plateau State for his commitment to ensuring rescued victims are safely reunited with their families, describing the fight against human trafficking as “a work in progress.”

According to her, prevention remains one of the commission’s major responsibilities through sustained public enlightenment and sensitisation campaigns across the state’s 17 local government areas.

“We constantly educate our people that they should never hand over their children to strangers or unverified agents under the guise of offering opportunities,” she said.

She stressed that child protection remains one of the commission’s highest priorities, warning that parental neglect often leaves children vulnerable to traffickers.

“Parents cannot abdicate their responsibilities. When children become vulnerable and begin seeking help on their own, traffickers take advantage of them, moving them outside the state and even outside the country, where they are exposed to unimaginable exploitation.”

Dazyam said the commission also works closely with the media, civil society organisations and development partners to create awareness about the dangers of human trafficking.

“There is nothing good about human trafficking. Its sole purpose is exploitation,” she added.

She disclosed that rescued victims are provided with psychosocial support, counselling and empowerment programmes to enable them rebuild their lives, while the Commission continues to work with law enforcement agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute traffickers and their collaborators.

Speaking on the rescue operation, Prosper Michael, Founder of the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO), said the successful intervention began after the organisation received information from one of its partners in Jos, who had been contacted by the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission regarding two young women reportedly being held in sexual captivity in a village in Mali.

According to him, the commission supplied details of the victims, enabling GAHTO to establish communication with them and coordinate their eventual rescue from their trafficker, commonly referred to as their “madam.”

Michael called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, civil society organisations and international partners, warning that thousands of Nigerian girls remain trapped in sexual exploitation across several West African countries.

“This rescue demonstrates what collaboration can achieve, but thousands of Nigerian girls are still being held in sexual captivity across West Africa. We need stronger partnerships if we are to dismantle these trafficking networks and rescue more victims,” he said.

Victoria said she was introduced to a woman who promised her a better job opportunity outside Nigeria.

She explained that she travelled from Delta State to Cotonu, Republic of Benin, before arriving in Mali, only to discover that the job she had been promised was prostitution.

“I was told there was a job, but nobody told me it was prostitution. I could not do it, so I asked to return,” she said.

Victoria, an orphan and mother of a five-year-old daughter, appealed for support to establish a legitimate business, saying she wants to provide a better future for herself and daughter.
Joy narrated that she had been working as a domestic worker in Lagos before searching for a better-paying job.

According to her, someone introduced her to a man identified as Kingsley, who claimed his sister owned a restaurant where she could work.

She said she and another victim travelled believing they were heading for restaurant jobs, only to discover upon arrival in Mali that they had been sold into a prostitution ring.

Joy alleged that their phones, identification documents and personal belongings were immediately confiscated.

She further claimed they were compelled to dress in revealing clothing, solicit men and repay an alleged debt of about ₦1.5 million CFA before they could regain their freedom.

According to her, the victims received only one meal daily and were subjected to intimidation, physical assault and repeated threats.

She also alleged that many Nigerian girls held at the location suffered untreated illnesses, while several minors had equally been trafficked there.

“I refused because that was not what I was promised. They kept threatening us and said we had to work until we paid back the money they claimed to have spent on us,” she recalled.

Joy, who disclosed that she lives with a chronic medical condition, said she eventually regained access to her phone, contacted her family and was rescued after anti-human trafficking advocates intervened.

Janet also narrated how she accepted the offer after becoming stranded in Lagos.

She said she was promised employment in a restaurant but was instead transported to Mali and instructed to engage in prostitution.

“I told them I would rather die than do prostitution. That was not why I travelled,” she said.

Janet alleged that traffickers repeatedly threatened her after she encouraged another victim not to succumb to pressure.

She urged Nigerian youths to verify any overseas employment opportunity before embarking on such journeys.

“Most of the jobs they promise are not genuine. Young people should investigate properly before travelling anywhere,” she cautioned.

Like the other victims, Janet appealed to government authorities for skills acquisition and business support to enable her rebuild her life.

Receiving the rescued victims on behalf of the Plateau State Government, officials assured them of rehabilitation, counselling, psychosocial care and reintegration support.

“It is a thing of joy that our sisters have been rescued. The Plateau State Government will not abandon them. They will be rehabilitated and empowered so they can become productive members of society once again.

“This is not the first time we have carried out such rehabilitation, and under the present administration, we will continue to support victims of human trafficking,” the officials said.

A staff member of the Plateau State Liaison Office in Lagos, Victor Daya, who witnessed the handover, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to partnering with anti-human trafficking organisations to ensure rescued victims receive the care, rehabilitation and empowerment needed to rebuild their lives.

The government also pledged to intensify public enlightenment campaigns and strengthen collaboration with security agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to prevent more young Nigerians from falling victim to human traffickers.

The latest rescue underscored the growing threat posed by transnational trafficking syndicates targeting vulnerable Nigerians with false promises of employment abroad, reinforcing calls for stronger border surveillance, sustained public awareness campaigns and enhanced collaboration among governments, security agencies and anti-trafficking organisations to dismantle criminal networks and protect vulnerable citizens.