A gender-based advocacy organization, *Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society* (CWEENS), has dismantled a child trafficking syndicate and successfully rescued 17 victims in Jos.
The National Coordinator of CWEENS, Prof. Oluwafunmilayo Para-Mallam, disclosed the development in Jos on Monday, highlighting how intelligence gathering led to the arrest of key perpetrators and the rescue operation.
“Acting on credible intelligence, we facilitated the swift apprehension of a woman named Nanman Pungtel at Old Airport Junction, Jos, on December 2, 2024, with three children she could not account for. Further investigations that night led to the arrest of the mastermind, Pastor Dayo Bernard of End Time Army Ministry in Bukuru,” Para-Mallam revealed.
She further explained, “The operation resulted in the rescue of five children, aged between two and four years, who had been abducted from various homes in Kwande, Qua’an Pan LGA. Additional syndicate members, including Rita Agboeze, Victoria Ugwu, and Peter Ukwuani, were also apprehended.”
During interrogation, the principal suspect, Pastor Dayo Bernard, admitted to abducting and selling 13 children from Plateau State for amounts ranging from ₦350,000 to ₦750,000, she said.
The rescued children were recovered by police and placed under the care of CWEENS Safe House from December 5 to 10, where they received rehabilitative support before reintegration.
“In December 2024 alone, CWEENS provided psycho-social therapy for 13 rescued children and four other trafficked children who were brought in from the Republic of Mali and Ghana.
“All 17 children have since been successfully reunited with their families through the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development,” Para-Mallam noted.
She described the incident as a stark reminder of the persistent challenge of child trafficking in Plateau State, calling for urgent action.
“In the past quarter alone, CWEENS has provided shelter, psychological care, and legal assistance to 42 survivors of trafficking, 32 of whom were children—22 girls and 10 boys.
“This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for increased community awareness, parental vigilance, and reinforced State response mechanisms to protect vulnerable children from exploitation. As the statistics show, the girl-child is especially at risk,” she emphasized.
CWEENS expressed gratitude to its partners and urged the state government to prioritize localized awareness campaigns and foster inter-agency collaboration. Such initiatives, Para-Mallam said, are critical for a coordinated response to trafficking and effective rehabilitation of survivors.
