The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in partnership with the Taraba State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, has successfully reunited 10 trafficked minors with their biological parents in Jalingo, the state capital.
The children were rescued on January 31, 2026, when NAPTIP operatives intercepted a woman transporting them at Kurmi Park in Jalingo. The group was allegedly headed to Baissa, the administrative headquarters of Kurmi Local Government Area.
In a statement released on Tuesday, NAPTIP’s Taraba Command Commander, Mr. Bako Amos, said the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Mrs. Mary Sinjen, and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Eric Juyo, visited the command on February 2, 2026, to receive and interact with the rescued minors.
Mr. Amos noted that the visit was intended to identify the root causes of the illegal movement of minors and to assess the challenges faced by the victims. He added that the findings would help inform policies aimed at curbing human trafficking and irregular migration involving children, women, and girls.
The statement warned of the dangers associated with irregular migration, noting that vulnerable persons are often moved without parental consent or through deception, under the pretext of seeking better opportunities. It also said traffickers frequently exploit children for financial gain.
NAPTIP urged parents and guardians to refrain from handing over their children to unscrupulous individuals in an attempt to ease the burden of child upbringing, warning that such actions expose minors to serious risks.
The agency reiterated its commitment to protecting, rehabilitating, and caring for victims of trafficking, pledging to continue addressing the trauma associated with the crime. It also vowed that perpetrators and their accomplices would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.