The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, in collaboration with the Taraba State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, has reunited 10 trafficked children with their biological parents in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
The children were rescued on January 31, 2026, after operatives of NAPTIP intercepted a suspected trafficker conveying them at Kurmi Motor Park, Jalingo.
Confirming the development in a statement on Tuesday, the Taraba State Commander of NAPTIP, Mr Bako Amos, said the children were formally handed over to their families on February 2.
He said the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Mrs Mary Sinjen, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Eric Juyo, visited the NAPTIP command to receive the rescued children and interact with them.
According to Amos, the engagement was aimed at establishing the circumstances that led to the illegal movement of the minors from their communities to an unknown destination.
“The visit was also to assess the challenges confronting the children and proffer lasting solutions through policy development and implementation to reduce the incidence of human trafficking and irregular migration of minors,” the statement read.
NAPTIP warned that the irregular movement of children, often carried out without parental consent or under false promises of better opportunities, exposed them to exploitation and abuse.
The agency cautioned parents and guardians against handing over their children to traffickers under the guise of alleviating economic hardship, noting that such actions placed minors at grave risk.
Amos reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to the protection, rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficking victims, stressing that traffickers would be prosecuted.
“It will not be business as usual for traffickers in Taraba State. Anyone found culpable will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
He added that the 10 children were counselled before being reunited with their families.
NAPTIP also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements involving minors to security agencies.
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