Plateau government says it is ready to partner the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons to stem the tide of trafficking in women and girls from the Mikang Local Government Area of the state.

Governor Simon Lalong stated this when he received Imaam Suleiman, NAPTIP’s Director General, on Tuesday at the Plateau Governor’s lodge in Abuja.

Mr. Lalong expressed concerns over reports of cases of trafficking of girls in Mikang.

“Trafficking in girls was reported in Mikang Local Government Area, where young girls were taken out of the state in December 2020. Some government officials sent to investigate the matter were attacked by the parents of the girls, who said they allowed their children to be trafficked to alleviate their hardship and give them better lives,” said the governor.

Mr. Lalong added that Plateau was the first to sign the Child Rights Law in northern Nigeria because of its commitment to children’s well-being.

Earlier in her remarks, Ms. Suleiman said she visited the governor to seek his support to stop trafficking.

“NAPTIP has just nine zonal commands and 10 state commands. We can not fight the menace of trafficking without the collaboration of other law enforcement agencies,” she said.

(NAN)