The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it rescued 68 children and shut down an illegal orphanage in Jos, Plateau State capital.

In an interview with journalists on Monday, the state commander in Plateau, Adole Alexander, said the orphanage housed many children from Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and some local government areas in Plateau for trafficking to other parts of Nigeria.

“We rescued 68 children from a fake orphanage called Our Lordship Orphanage, operated by three persons who were recruiting children from Adamawa, Taraba, and some LGAs in Plateau like Langtang, Quanpang and Riyom.

“We have been able to reunite all of them with their families,” he said.

According to him, the agency recorded 78 total cases of trafficking, with 121 victims in Plateau.

He said the cases were recorded from March 2021 to date and were mostly from Riyom and Bassa Local Government Areas, which have been identified as the most endemic areas.

Mr Alexander added that trafficking in Langtang North LGA was mostly used as domestic help.

He said that 15 cases were already in court, with five at the conviction stage.

The commander explained that some cases outside their jurisdiction were referred to the relevant organisations for appropriate action.

Mr Alexander urged parents and guardians, especially in conflict areas in the state, to investigate organisations that take their children to their orphanages, promising them education, skills acquisition and other services.

He said many traffickers use that as a guise to recruit children for hard labour and sexual gratification.

(NAN)