How criminals exploited Benue’s conflicts to traffic children, women

From the place she sat beneath a mango tree beside two huts and an previous three-bedroom bungalow, Hembadoon Tervershima watched a bike flip onto the slim footpath that ended within the compound.

Since the disappearance of her daughter in May 2024, the 42-year-old widow has lived along with her mom. Two years later, the sight or sound of a car approaching the compound nonetheless takes her thoughts again to her daughter.

“I still wait for her every day,” she mentioned quietly. “Sometimes I thought I heard her voice.”

Joy Tervershima was 15 when she left for college one morning in Zaki Biam, headquarters of Ukum Local Government Area in Benue State. That was the final time a member of the family noticed her. Her disappearance got here years after armed attackers displaced her household and hundreds of different residents from their ancestral dwelling in Guma Local Government Area. The household settled in Zaki Biam with their two daughters, hoping to rebuild their lives away from the battle. That hope was short-lived.

Months handed earlier than the household heard from police investigators that Joy had been trafficked via Lagos to Libya. Then, at some point, almost a yr after she vanished, she known as from a world code.

According to Mrs Tervershima, Joy mentioned a person she knew in Zaki Biam had lured her and several other different women with a promise of jobs overseas.

“When they got to Libya, they realised they had been taken there for prostitution,” her mom mentioned.

Joy instructed her household that most of the women she travelled with from Benue died through the journey. She has spoken to her mom solely twice since that decision. The quantity has been unreachable.

“I don’t know if she is alive or dead,” her mom mentioned.

Joy’s father died in December 2024 after struggling a stroke. Mrs Tervershima later heard that the suspected trafficker was well-known across the Zaki Biam International Yam Market. His whereabouts are actually unknown.

The promise

Hundreds of kilometres away in one other rural a part of Benue, one other trafficking community was focusing on susceptible youngsters with the identical guarantees of jobs.

Among these drawn in have been two 17-year-olds, Chivirter and Kashimana, from Logo Local Government Area. The two mates had grown up in rural communities the place incessant violent assaults had disrupted farming and different technique of livelihood.

According to the women, a relative of one in all them had provided them jobs in Benin City, Edo State. Neither teenager instructed her mother and father earlier than leaving with the person.

At the time, Chivirter’s mom, Nancy, was in Taraba State. “I was shocked,” she mentioned. “Nobody knew where she had gone.”

The journey

The women mentioned their journey to Benin City lasted almost two days, throughout which they handed a number of safety checkpoints.

“The security people only asked for money,” Kashimana mentioned. “Nobody asked us where we were going.”

In Benin City, the women have been handed over to completely different women.

Kashimana’s “Madam” was one Mama Osas within the Akiwa space of the Edo State capital.

Chivirter had entry to a cell phone, which she used to organise her escape. Within every week, she fled again to Benue.

“I called my parents and told them I had been trafficked,” she mentioned. “I told them I wanted to return home.”

Kashimana remained in Benin City for greater than a yr and instructed her mother and father that she had married.

“I knew they were worried,” she mentioned. “I wanted them to move on.”

Life after trafficking

Kashimana mentioned she was not pressured into prostitution. “I heard about it because other girls were doing it,” she mentioned.

She additionally alleged that Atsuku pressured her to invite different women from Benue, providing between ₦90,000 and ₦120,000 for every particular person she introduced into the community.

Both women have since returned to Benue, however their households mentioned the expertise continues to have an effect on them. Chivirter’s father mentioned she turned withdrawn after returning dwelling.

“She is no longer the same person,” he mentioned. “The experience changed her.”

Kashimana’s family members described an identical change. Before leaving Benue, the 2 mates have been lively in church actions, together with attending Sunday college. However, since their return, Kashimana has not often participated.

“We feel ashamed,” Chivirter mentioned. “We are always scared.”

The misplaced kids

PREMIUM TIMES discovered that traffickers focused a unique kind of victims within the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. Instead of particular person youngsters, they aim conflict-displaced households, providing training, meals, and lodging for his or her kids.

Posing as assist employees, they inform mother and father their kids would attend college and return dwelling throughout Christmas and Easter holidays.

Among these approached was Lucy Emmanuel, a 31-year-old widow. Her husband died in January 2024, leaving her to care for his or her two kids – Rejoice, 8, and Michael, 5. She fled from the frequent violence of their village and settled in Yelewata.

When the supposed assist employees initially approached her in June 2024, she rejected their supply.

“I had only my two children left,” Mrs Emmanuel recalled. “I cannot give them away.”

She mentioned family members ultimately persuaded her that the programme might safe a greater future for the kids.

Like dozens of different mother and father, Mrs Emmanuel believed she was sending her kids to college.

PREMIUM TIMES interviewed different mother and father of trafficked kids within the space, together with Monica Ayangealumun, mom of Blessing Oliver, 7, and Doose Oliver, 4; and 35-year-old Adiza Yusuf, mom of Terna Yusuf, 6, and Vendaga Yusuf, 8.

The newspaper’s findings point out that greater than 300 kids have been taken from communities in Guma Local Government Area in 2024 via the scheme.

Even when Mrs Emmanuel’s kids didn’t return dwelling for Christmas in December 2024, she continued to consider they have been secure. However, once they didn’t for Easter 2025, she realised one thing was fallacious.

Then, in June 2025, Yelewata got here beneath a lethal assault during which greater than 100 folks have been killed. Interviews carried out by PREMIUM TIMES indicated that some mother and father whose kids had disappeared within the trafficking scheme have been amongst these killed. Survivors fled once more, scattering households who have been already trying to find their lacking kids.

Mrs Emmanuel moved into the International Market Internally Displaced Persons camp in Makurdi, the place NAPTIP later reunited her with one of many kids, Rejoice. Michael stays lacking.

Behind the programme

Further reporting traced the trafficking to the National Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria (NACCRAN), an organisation established in 2001, purportedly to promote kids’s rights and coordinate little one safety actions.

Among its initiatives is a “Back-to-School” programme meant to assist susceptible and out-of-school kids entry training via group engagement and academic assist.

The programme was allegedly exploited to recruit kids from conflict-affected communities in Guma, notably Yelewata, Daudu and Agban.

According to NAPTIP, greater than 300 kids, aged between one and 13 years, have been taken from the three communities. Some mother and father signed consent kinds, whereas others gave verbal approval after being instructed their kids would return dwelling after three years.

The company recognized Anderson Archibong, govt secretary of NACCRAN, because the alleged mastermind of the operation.

Dillo Ibrahim, head of Intelligence and International Cooperation at NAPTIP’s Makurdi Zonal Command, mentioned the company’s investigation started on 1 May 2025 after a person petitioned NAPTIP over a case involving his four-year-old son. He alleged that his mother-in-law had handed over the kid to an NGO with out his consent and that he was instructed he might solely see the kid after three years.

The criticism led to arrests in Daudu and, in accordance to NAPTIP, investigators uncovered a wider community concerned in trafficking and unlawful adoption.

Mr Ibrahim mentioned the suspects focused communities the place farmer-herder violence had displaced residents. They introduced the programme to conventional rulers and villagers as an avenue for offering susceptible kids with training and care.

NAPTIP additionally recognized one Mercy Akema, who allegedly introduced herself as an indigene of Guma, as a key determine within the operation.

“Ms Akema claimed she was from that axis,” Mr Ibrahim instructed PREMIUM TIMES. “That was one of the major reasons the people trusted them.”

According to the company, kids collected from Yelewata, Daudu and Agban have been transported, typically in Mr Archibong’s private car, to orphanage houses in Abuja and Nasarawa earlier than being distributed to different elements of the nation.

NAPTIP mentioned Mr Archibong carried paperwork figuring out him as a toddler rights advocate.

“He had the formal identification to show security agencies who he was and that he had legal custody of the children.”

The company recognized 4 orphanage houses allegedly used as transit centres: Divine Orphanage Home in Abuja; Zion Gate Orphanage in Mararaba, Nasarawa State; Divine ABN in Masaka, Nasarawa State; and Touch a Child Orphanage Home in Enugu State.

NAPTIP alleged that among the kids have been offered to potential adopters for between ₦1 million and ₦3 million every. One complainant instructed investigators that he paid ₦2.8 million as an adoption payment and an extra ₦100,000 consultancy payment.

“The striking issue is that the names of the children were changed,” Mr Ibrahim mentioned. “The buyers gave them new names.”

NAPTIP mentioned it has thus far rescued 105 kids linked to the operation. Of these, 101 have been reunited with their households, whereas 4 stay within the company’s custody as officers proceed efforts to hint their family members.

The rescued kids have been discovered throughout a number of states: 39 within the Federal Capital Territory, 12 in Abia, 11 in Lagos, eight in Nasarawa, seven in Aba, six every in Enugu, Anambra and Niger, 5 in Rivers and 4 in Imo. Mr Ibrahim mentioned investigators had recognized further victims in Abia and deliberate additional rescue operations, topic to logistical assist.

“In the course of our investigation, we have not seen anyone who was taken for ritual purposes,” Mr Ibrahim mentioned. “It is mainly for financial gain. The demand for children is very high, especially among people who have been unable to have children of their own.”

Mr Archibong has been arraigned in reference to the Benue case, in accordance to NAPTIP. The company mentioned he was granted bail at one level however was later rearrested after allegedly trying to recruit extra kids in Nasarawa State.

Mr Akema has additionally been arraigned, whereas investigations into different members of the alleged syndicate proceed.

“We are optimistic,” Mr Ibrahim mentioned. “Anybody involved in this syndicate is going to face the law.”

An official of NAPTIP’s Lafia Zonal Command, who requested anonymity as a result of the matter is earlier than the courtroom, additionally confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Archibong is going through a separate trafficking prosecution in Nasarawa State involving greater than 200 kids. The official mentioned he was being held on the Lafia Custodial Centre.

PREMIUM TIMES’ efforts to converse with Mr Archibong’s lawyer failed.

The women who by no means returned

While Chivirter escaped inside weeks and Kashimana returned after greater than a yr in captivity, different younger women from Benue have died overseas.

During this investigation, PREMIUM TIMES obtained pictures, movies, loss of life notices and testimonies documenting the deaths of trafficked women from the state in Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic and different locations throughout West and North Africa.

Several households mentioned they by no means noticed their daughters alive once more. Some couldn’t afford to carry their stays dwelling.

One of those that died was Dorcas Sewuese.

A member of the family, who requested not to be recognized, instructed PREMIUM TIMES that the household wished to carry her physique dwelling for burial, however couldn’t afford the fee.

Mr Ibrahim of NAPTIP’s Makurdi workplace confirmed that the company dealt with her case. He mentioned Miss Sewuese turned critically unwell in Benghazi, Libya. NAPTIP had organized to return her to Nigeria, he mentioned, however she died earlier than she might board the flight. The company arrested folks linked to her trafficking, and the case is now earlier than the Federal High Court.

For human rights activist Yaaya Sughnen, who has spent about three years documenting trafficking instances in Benue and serving to households hint victims, Miss Sewue’s loss of life is a part of a wider sample.

Twenty-three deaths

Mr Sughnen instructed PREMIUM TIMES that at the least 23 younger women from Benue died in trafficking-related circumstances throughout African international locations between March and June.

Families ceaselessly contact him after shedding communication with daughters who travelled in the hunt for work, he mentioned.

Mr Sughnen mentioned he receives about 20 trafficking-related experiences weekly. He has documented instances and labored with safety companies, together with the Benue State Police Gender Unit, for a number of years, tracing victims and suspects.

He mentioned the trafficking networks usually recruit younger women and women with guarantees of jobs in Nigeria and overseas. Recruiters function via chains of brokers, he mentioned, with people paid between ₦200,000 and ₦1 million to transfer victims from one location to one other earlier than they’re transported throughout borders.

On the kids trafficked, Mr Sughnen mentioned recruiters exploit their mother and father’ vulnerability.

He mentioned weak enforcement alongside some trafficking routes, together with border crossings, additionally allows traffickers to transfer victims with restricted scrutiny.

NAPTIP’s Mr Ibrahim mentioned the loss of life of some victims bolstered the necessity to establish and cease trafficking earlier than victims depart their communities.

He mentioned the company has expanded sensitisation campaigns in colleges, church buildings, motor parks, IDP camps and different susceptible communities, warning residents about misleading recruitment schemes and inspiring them to report suspicious approaches.

Government was unaware

Janet Daagba, director of Child Development in Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, mentioned the ministry turned conscious of the alleged “Back-to-School” operation after regulation enforcement started investigating it.

“We were not aware,” she mentioned. “It was only later that the Ministry of Justice contacted us in connection with the investigation. They are the ones handling the matter.”

The officers mentioned the ministry had since strengthened community-based little one safety buildings in IDP camps and host communities.

Social employees have been deployed in affected communities, whereas UNICEF and different companions have supported consciousness campaigns warning households in opposition to handing kids to strangers posing as assist employees or training suppliers, she added.

She additionally cited livelihood programmes for displaced women, together with agricultural assist, meals processing and vocational interventions, as a part of efforts to cut back the financial vulnerability that traffickers exploit.

Mrs Daagba mentioned the ministry works with conventional rulers, faith-based organisations, civil society teams, the National Orientation Agency, UNICEF and UNFPA on little one safety and consciousness programmes.

For households nonetheless ready for lacking kids, Mrs Daagba mentioned the ministry offers psychosocial assist within the camps whereas investigations and rescue efforts proceed.

“We are giving them hope,” she mentioned. “Our staff are in the camps providing social support, and we are working with other government agencies to ensure these kinds of incidents do not happen again.”

The official mentioned the Ministry of Justice was main the federal government’s authorized response, whereas the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare was supporting affected households and strengthening little one safety measures.

Questions left unanswered

PREMIUM TIMES was unable to attain the Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Ornguga Yangien, by phone.

The newspaper subsequently contacted him by way of WhatsApp, looking for his response to the findings, together with the standing of the prosecution, institutional or regulatory gaps recognized by the ministry, efforts to get well and reunite lacking kids with their households, measures to stop related instances and longer-term reforms to handle the hyperlink between battle, displacement and little one trafficking.

Mr Yangien learn the message, in accordance to a subsequent WhatsApp verification, however didn’t reply earlier than publication.

Police response sought

PREMIUM TIMES additionally sought the Benue State Police Command’s response to the trafficking patterns uncovered through the investigation.

The police spokesperson, Peter Aondongu, mentioned he wanted to seek the advice of the Gender Desk Officer and transient the Commissioner of Police earlier than responding.

A subsequent follow-up with the Gender Desk Officer indicated that the required approval had not been obtained.

Repeated makes an attempt to attain Mr Aondongu afterwards have been unsuccessful, as his phone line turned unreachable earlier than publication.

Still ready

The scale of the trafficking uncovered in Benue displays a wider nationwide disaster.

At the twenty eighth National Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum and Summit on Human Trafficking held in Abuja on 30 July 2025, NAPTIP and its companions described trafficking as organised crime and cited the dimensions of the worldwide commerce, estimated at greater than $245 billion yearly.

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The company reported that it had rescued 25,642 victims, arrested 11,406 suspects and secured 750 convictions.

The 323 contributors on the summit, drawn from authorities, regulation enforcement, civil society, diplomatic missions and improvement organisations, known as for stronger political management, functioning state job forces, higher safety and reintegration of survivors, stronger prosecutions and nearer cooperation throughout companies and borders.

Nearly a yr later, NAPTIP and its companions moved to strengthen that framework.

On 6 July, the company introduced the validation of Nigeria’s National Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Persons and Violence Against Persons (TIPVAP 2025–2027), developed with assist from ECOWAS, the European Union, Denmark and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development.

The technique is constructed round 5 pillars: coverage improvement, prevention, safety, prosecution and partnerships.

But the necessity for such measures is already starkly evident in Benue. By July 2025, NAPTIP had recognized Benue because the nation’s main supply of trafficking instances.

Speaking in Makurdi, NAPTIP Director-General Binta Bello, represented by the company’s Director of Intelligence, Josiah Emeriole, mentioned Benue had overtaken Edo when it comes to the variety of rescued victims and arrested suspects.

She linked the rise to extended insecurity, which has displaced households, killed mother and father and left kids susceptible to exploitation.

For the moms of trafficked kids, the guarantees made by authorities companies and the resolutions adopted at nationwide boards will stay distant till the kids are returned dwelling.

This reporting was accomplished with the assist of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).