NAPTIP Rescues 96 Trafficked Children in Benue State

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) successfully rescued 96 trafficked children in Benue State, with 84 of them being reunited with their families. Hembadoon Kuma, the newly deployed head of the Makurdi zonal command, disclosed this information during an interaction with newsmen on Wednesday.

Kuma noted that upon assuming office, she confronted the ongoing challenge of child trafficking in Benue, particularly in Guma Local Government Area, where it is estimated that 300 children are trafficked by 2025. The Makurdi zonal command acted on intelligence reports and managed to rescue 87 children, with 84 successfully reunited with their parents.

Additionally, nine children were recently rescued and brought to the command's efforts to trace and rescue remaining victims. Kuma warned traffickers to desist from their criminal activities and urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements to security agencies.