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In a swift operation early Monday morning, anti-trafficking efforts in Makurdi, Benue State, led to the interception of four young girls reportedly being transported to Ghana. The incident was shared on Facebook by Zege’Orkwande Sughnen Yaaya, who detailed the coordinated response at a local park.
According to the post, authorities and concerned individuals acted on received intelligence and promptly moved to the park, where they stopped the girls. Yaaya identified two men connected to the case: a staff member of the park who allegedly received transportation funds from a “madam” in Ghana, and another individual described as a customer whose WhatsApp was used by the girls to communicate with the trafficker. The post claims the madam instructed the park staff member on where to drop the girls in Lagos for handover to another person.
Yaaya emphasized that all evidence, including communications and transaction records, has been preserved, particularly on the phone of one of the individuals involved. The four girls were subsequently handed over to the Benue State Police Command in Makurdi for formal legal action.
In a follow-up post, Yaaya clarified his stance, stating he is “not at war with NURTW Benue State” but with human traffickers and their alleged conspirators. He specifically named Dennis Tartenger as the park staff member who received ₦112,000 from the Ghana-based madam for the victims’ tickets. A screenshot of a successful OPay transaction dated June 14, 2026, at 19:26:13, showing the payment to Dennis Tartenger, accompanied the post. Yaaya described Tartenger as standing as a conspirator in the trafficking case and expressed hope that other park staff and officials would learn from the situation.
The posts, which include photos of the individuals and the transaction receipt, carry the hashtag #endHumanTrafficking, highlighting ongoing concerns about human trafficking networks operating across Nigeria and into Ghana.
This incident underscores the vigilance required in public spaces like parks and transport hubs, where traffickers often exploit vulnerabilities. As investigations proceed under the Benue State Police, authorities are expected to provide further updates on the case and any charges that may follow.
