The Plateau State Government has arrested a bar operator and another woman over the alleged trafficking of three teenage girls to Ghana for prostitution.
The prime suspect, identified as Mrs Yakubu, who runs a bar in the Rantya area of Jos, was on Thursday paraded at the headquarters of the State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission alongside the three victims recently brought back from Ghana.
Two of the victims, aged 18 and 19, hail from Adamawa State, while the third is an indigene of Plateau State.
Addressing journalists, the Chairperson of the commission, Olivia Dazyam, disclosed that the agency acted on intelligence reports and worked closely with security operatives to secure the girls’ return.
She said the commission received credible information that the suspect facilitated the movement of the girls from Plateau to Ghana under false pretences.
According to her, the intervention of security agencies led to their safe repatriation to Jos.
Dazyam alleged that the victims were trafficked for sexual exploitation, adding that investigations revealed that one of the suspect’s daughters is also currently in Ghana under related circumstances.
She expressed concern that human traffickers operate within local communities, warning residents to remain vigilant.
The chairperson further revealed that two women were implicated in the crime, including another suspect accused of arranging the trafficking of two girls from Mangu to Ghana.
One of the victims, she said, managed to escape and has since returned home safely.
Despite sustained public awareness campaigns, Dazyam lamented that some individuals remain involved in trafficking activities.
She noted that Governor Caleb Mutfwang had directed the commission to expose such crimes with verifiable evidence, stressing that perpetrators would be prosecuted.
According to her, the suspects will undergo thorough investigation as the commission works with law enforcement agencies to uncover the full scope of the trafficking network.
In her remarks, Mrs Yakubu admitted facilitating the girls’ trip but claimed she only intended to help them secure employment in Ghana, similar to her daughter.
She, however, failed to clarify the nature of the purported job.
The rescued victims, Humata Ilya, Sendy Emmanuel and Dorathy Yakubu, refuted the suspect’s claims, insisting they were misled and coerced into travelling for prostitution.
The suspects and the victims were subsequently transferred to the state police command for further investigation and possible prosecution.