Zege’Orkwande Sughnen Yaaya, a prominent Benue activist, has exposed a human trafficking network operating from Mali that has trapped hundreds of young girls from Benue State. According to his reports, an estimated 85% of the victims are minors under the age of 18.
In a series of social media posts, Yaaya described conditions in a camp run by a woman identified as Mlumun Tarza Matu. He stated that among the hundreds of Benue girls held there, three have died, two are critically ill, and many others are pregnant. He further alleged that some victims who gave birth had their newborn babies sold by Matu.
Using his personal funds and with assistance from Benue Links Nig. Ltd., Yaaya recently repatriated one victim to Benue State. Upon arrival in Makurdi, the girl described as 17 years old was found to be very sick and pregnant. Yaaya took her to the Tor Tiv Palace in Gboko to seek guidance from the Ngo U Tiv (wife of the paramount ruler) on her welfare and next steps.
The repatriated victim’s account, as shared by Yaaya, illustrates the deception used by the traffickers. She said her parents handed her over to Mlumun Tarza after being promised a good job in Lagos. Instead, she was taken to Mali and forced into prostitution. After she settled a debt with Matu, she was denied freedom and sold to another Tiv “madam” operating in Mali.
Yaaya issued a stern warning to parents: anyone who allows an underage child to travel—with or without consent—will be treated as an accomplice and face arrest. He disclosed that the mother of the girl he repatriated was apprehended at the Tor Tiv Palace. He also demanded that the parents reimburse the N650,000 he spent on her return, stating he would pursue legal action if they refused.
The case is not isolated. Reports indicate trafficking networks are employing sophisticated tactics, including disguising young girls as sachet water vendors to evade security checks and moving them through illegal bush routes across West African borders.
The Benue State Government, through Comrade Alexander Fanafa, General Manager of Benue Links, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to partnering with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The goal is to combat the problem and support the free repatriation of trafficked Benue indigenes.
This development underscores the ongoing vulnerability of minors in the region and the need for heightened vigilance by families, communities, and authorities.
