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The National Agency for the Prevention of Human Trafficking has rescued 184 victims in Plateau State, including three pregnant women who were among those released.

The Acting Head of Counselling and Rehabilitation at NAPTIP in Plateau State, Anne Felix, revealed this during an interview with The PUNCH in Jos on Tuesday, while attending the Quarterly Meeting of the third Plateau State Action Plan Implementation Committee on Women, Peace and Security, along with the Validation workshop for Local Action Plans for Jos South, Mangu, and Wase LGAs.

She mentioned that the agency has taken substantial steps to eliminate human trafficking within the state and other regions of the country.

Felix stated, “From the previous quarter up to the present, one of our actions has been conducting raids aimed at eliminating human trafficking.”

We conducted operations in Jos and managed to free 184 individuals. Among them, we discovered that three are pregnant. We have a mix of boys and girls, along with teenagers and those below the age of 18.

From the 184, we managed to secure five individuals who are currently undergoing rehabilitation at our facilities. We have also engaged with some of the offenders’ states regarding mediation and other matters. Additionally, we successfully convicted several perpetrators of human trafficking last December.

They are currently serving their prison sentence, while the victims of human trafficking have been given opportunities to rebuild their lives. Last month, in January, we managed to rescue some individuals who were being trafficked towards Akure. Fortunately, we were able to bring them back to their families, and the suspects are now facing legal proceedings.

A reporter states that the workshop sought to enhance women’s protection, involvement, and leadership in peacebuilding and security issues, as stakeholders confirmed community-based strategies to tackle security challenges and assist women in conflict zones.

A facilitator and lead researcher, Dr. Sesan Peter from the University of Jos, stated that the Local Action Plans enhance the State Action Plan by establishing platforms at community and zonal levels where women can report security issues, obtain support, and engage in peace initiatives.

He pointed out that women frequently take on significant economic and social responsibilities during wars, supporting their families while encountering increased dangers of sexual assault and being forced to leave their homes.

“The plans allow for reporting and assistance to women at the local level without having to travel to Jos, which is a considerable distance,” he stated.

The Executive Director of WOPPI, Lantana Bako Abdullahi, highlighted that Plateau is one of the limited number of states executing a third-generation State Action Plan.

The present emphasis is on hands-on activities within five key areas: prevention, protection, involvement, assistance, and rehabilitation.

She mentioned that the validation process guarantees that local plans are in line with state policy, are inclusive, feasible, and cost-effective for local governments to implement,” she stated.

The Permanent Secretary of the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Rebecca Shasset, highlighted that true peace cannot be achieved without the active participation of women.

She portrayed women as essential figures in promoting peace and as foundations of societal resilience.

Officials from security and social service organizations provided updates on their developments, while local groups emphasized initiatives aimed at empowering women and girls.

Attendees also requested greater public awareness regarding important legislation, such as the State Action Plan, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, and the Gender and Equal Opportunities Law.

Our reporter states that the initiative is backed by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Program, which is financed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and carried out by Tetra Tech International Development, with Women for Positive Peacebuilding Initiative serving as the local implementation partner.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).