In a major crackdown on human trafficking and sexual exploitation, the Plateau State Government has rescued dozens of minors from brothels and hotels across the Jos-Bukuru metropolis.
Coordinated Raids Across the Metropolis
A multi-agency Task Force Committee on Human Trafficking executed coordinated raids on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. The operation targeted numerous brothels, hotels, and motels.
The task force included officials from the Plateau State Ministry of Justice, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigeria Police Force, all from the Plateau State command.
The rescued victims included young girls aged between 11 and 17 years. Among them were persons living with disabilities, specifically deaf and non-verbal individuals, a breastfeeding mother, and a pregnant lady.
A Mirror of Societal Failure
The Chairman of the Task Force Committee, Hon. Barr. Philemon Audu Daffi, who is also the State's Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, addressed the grim reality uncovered by the operation. He described the situation as a painful indictment of broader social collapse.
"What we are seeing is a mirror of what our society has become," Barr. Daffi stated. He pointed to insecurity, economic hardship, broken homes, and irresponsible parenting as key factors pushing young people into vulnerable situations where they are exploited.
He urged the task force to act with fairness and conscience, emphasizing that the rescued victims still have a future. He also issued a strong warning against compromise, stating, "We do not care whose son or whose father is involved. What matters is doing what is right."
Call for Parental Responsibility and Stern Warnings
Mrs. Vivien Ebere Festus, representing NACTAL, highlighted the primary concern for the life and future of the children. "These are children who should be in school, under the care of their parents, not roaming the streets at night and being exploited," she said, calling on parents and guardians to take greater responsibility.
Preliminary findings indicate a disturbing pattern where men allegedly drug and sexually exploit underaged girls. Many of the victims were found in unsafe environments late at night when they should have been at home or in school.
The Secretary of the Task Force, Barr. David Nenfort Yilji, expressed confidence that the intervention could redirect the lives of the minors. He also delivered a stern warning to hospitality operators, declaring that any establishment found harboring underaged persons would be shut down by the government.
The raids covered several key locations in both Jos North and Jos South Local Government Areas, including:
- Jos Hotel
- Plapoly Hotel
- Stefans Hotel
- Plateau Central Hotel
- Puji West of Mines Hotel
- Summit Hotel
- Polo De Glit
- King Step
- Garden Palace
- Bolinco
- Jossy Royal
- People’s Hotel
As of the time of the report, the rescued victims were undergoing screening and investigation. The government plans to provide appropriate intervention, rehabilitation, and support for them.
Officials stated that this raid marks only the beginning of a sustained effort to dismantle networks preying on vulnerable children. It also serves as a call for collective reflection on the moral and social responsibilities of families, communities, and society at large.
