The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued 184 victims of human trafficking in Plateau State, including three pregnant women, officials have said. The operation highlights ongoing efforts to curb human trafficking in the region.

NAPTIP operatives carried out a series of raids in Jos and surrounding communities that led to the identification and recovery of victims being held in exploitative situations, the agency’s Acting Head of Counselling and Rehabilitation in Plateau, Anne Felix, said in an interview on Tuesday. Many of the rescued individuals were reportedly subjected to forced labour or other forms of abuse.

Felix said the operation has uncovered a broad range of trafficking cases that affected men, women and minors, and that the agency is now providing medical care, counselling and support services to help the survivors recover and reintegrate into their families and communities.

The rescue took place as part of NAPTIP’s sustained campaign against human trafficking. In addition to freeing victims, the agency has previously worked with law enforcement to prosecute traffickers and destroy trafficking networks operating within the state and beyond.

NAPTIP officials emphasised that the Plateau rescue operation demonstrates the agency’s commitment to combating modern-day slavery and exploitation, and called on the public to support awareness campaigns and report suspected trafficking activities so more lives can be saved.