The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has successfully brought back five young girls from Benue who were trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire. The Benue State Government has urged the public to stop sharing the video of these girls on social media to protect them from being stigmatized.
Gloria Bai, the Zonal Commander of NAPTIP’s Makurdi office, spoke to reporters on Thursday evening after a state Security Council meeting in Makurdi’s Government House. Bai confirmed that the girls have returned safely and are now undergoing rehabilitation.
Previously, a viral video showed the five girls, aged 18 to 21, who were trafficked for prostitution by a woman from Jato Aka in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. They revealed that the woman sold them for N400,000 each.
Mrs. Bai announced that the woman responsible for trafficking the girls has been arrested and will soon face charges in court. She praised the Benue State Government’s efforts in ensuring the girls’ safe return and advised parents, guardians, and job seekers to be vigilant to prevent trafficking.
Chief Joseph Har PSP, the Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, has also called on the public, especially Benue residents, to stop sharing the videos of the girls. He acknowledged that while those sharing the videos might have intended to draw government attention for a swift rescue, they inadvertently caused more harm by exposing the girls’ identities.
He noted that sharing their identities has added stigma to their situation and urged everyone to stop sharing the video to preserve the girls’ dignity. He appealed to Nigerians, especially Benue people, to treat these girls as they would their own daughters, siblings, or relatives.
