Pregnant Bar Owner Detained in Plateau for Allegedly Trafficking Three Girls to Ghana

A pregnant bar owner in Plateau State was arrested alongside another individual for allegedly trafficking three girls to Ghana.

The woman, known as Mrs. Yakubu and operating a bar within the Rantya community of Jos, was presented to the public on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the headquarters of the State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission in Jos, along with the three girls who were rescued from the trafficking situation in Ghana.

Out of the three girls, two are from Adamawa State, while one hails from Plateau State.

While addressing the media, Olivia Dazyam, the chairperson of the State Gender Commission, shared that the commission acted on intelligence received about the trafficking and collaborated with security agencies to return the girls home safely.

"We got reports at the Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission about a woman linked to the movement of two girls from Plateau State to Ghana. Fortunately, the two young women managed to return to Jos through the assistance of our security partners," Dazyam noted.

She added that the suspects purportedly trafficked the girls for the purpose of prostitution, profiting from their exploitation.

Furthermore, it was revealed that one of the suspects has a daughter currently involved in similar activities in Ghana.

Dazyam emphasized, "We wish to alert the citizens of Plateau State to the reality that traffickers are residing among us. Why would one seek to send young girls to Ghana for such purposes?"

She reported that two women were linked to this trafficking incident, mentioning another case involving two girls from Mangu, one of whom managed to flee and return home safely. Dazyam wishes to raise awareness among the populace about the presence of traffickers in their communities.

"It is unclear whether these individuals act out of sheer ignorance. Despite extensive awareness campaigns, how can one justify sending young girls off to Ghana? Remarkably, one suspect even has an 18 or 19-year-old daughter in Ghana. What activities is she engaged in there?" she questioned.

Dazyam firmly stated that Governor Caleb Mutfwang has instructed the commission to make such cases public with tangible evidence to deter trafficking activities.

She warned traffickers that silence will no longer be tolerated and called on the women of Plateau to rise against trafficking.

The suspects are subject to further investigations as the commission aims to uncover deeper insights into their operations.

Dazyam confirmed the safe return of the girls and reassured the public that the commission is working closely with security agencies to tackle the trafficking problem.

In her defense, Mrs. Yakubu expressed remorse for her actions but maintained that her intentions were to assist the girls in finding legitimate work like her daughter in Ghana, although she refrained from detailing what type of work her daughter was doing.

However, the three victims—Humata Ilya, Sendy Emmanuel, and Dorathy Yakubu—each gave separate accounts contradicting Mrs. Yakubu's claims, firmly stating they were misled into prostitution. Emmanuel shared, "She tricked us. We were fooled into believing her daughter was involved in the gold business in Ghana, not knowing we were being led into exploitation."

According to reports, the suspects and the three victims were subsequently transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department for further examination.