PLATEAU BAR OWNER, WOMAN ARRESTED FOR TRAFFICKING THREE GIRLS TO GHANA

Read Time:2 Minute, 45 Second

By: Sefiu Ajape

The Plateau State Government has arrested a bar owner and another woman for allegedly trafficking three girls to Ghana.

The pregnant woman, identified as Mrs. Yakubu, who runs a bar in the Rantya community of Jos, was paraded on Thursday at the State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission’s headquarters in Jos alongside the three rescued victims, who were repatriated from Ghana.

Two of the girls, aged between 18 and 19 years, are from Adamawa State, while one is from Plateau State.

Briefing journalists, the chairperson of the State Gender Commission, Olivia Dazyam, said the commission received information about the trafficking and collaborated with security agencies to bring the girls back.

“At the state Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, we received information about a woman that caused the movement of two girls from Plateau State to Ghana. God helped the two girls, and they were able to get back to Jos with the help of the security agencies,” Dazyam said.

She added that the suspects allegedly trafficked the girls to Ghana for prostitution, collecting “blood money” from their activities, and noted that one of the suspect’s own daughters is reportedly in Ghana in the same situation.

Dazyam expressed concern, stating, “We want to let the people of Plateau State know that traffickers are living in our communities. Why would you want to send young girls to Ghana to go and do what?”

She further elaborated, “As a matter of fact, two women were involved in the trafficking. One woman has also caused the trafficking of two girls from Mangu to Ghana. One escaped, and by the grace of God, she’s back safely now. We are saying this because we want to let the people of Plateau State know that traffickers are living in our communities. I do not know whether they have any excuse whether to say this is out of ignorance. There has been a lot of sensitisation out there. Why would you want to send young girls to Ghana to go and do what? As we speak, one of the suspects, her own daughter 18 or 19-year-old girl, is in Ghana. What is she doing in Ghana?”

The chairperson stressed that Governor Caleb Mutfwang had directed the commission to publicize such cases with evidence.

Dazyam warned traffickers that they will no longer be kept quiet and urged Plateau women to join the fight against trafficking. She added that the suspects will face further investigation as the commission works to uncover more about their activities.

“The repatriated girls have arrived safely, and the commission is working with security agencies to address the issue,” she said.

In an interview, Mrs. Yakubu expressed regret but claimed she was only helping the girls secure a good job like her daughter in Ghana, though she refused to specify her daughter’s occupation there.

However, the three victims—Humata Ilya, Sendy Emmanuel, and Dorathy Yakubu—countered her narrative, insisting they were deceived and lured into Ghana for prostitution.

Emmanuel said, “She (suspect) deceived us. We were deceived. She told us that her daughter is doing gold business in Ghana, not knowing that we were going into prostitution.”

Our correspondent reports that the suspect and the three trafficked victims were later transferred to the state CID for further investigation.