Plateau Killings: Displaced Children at Risk of Trafficking, fears Church

The Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) has alarmed that the hardship faced by persons displaced by recent attacks in Plateau State could be taken advantage of by child traffickers.

Those whose parents were killed in the attacks are at greater risk of trafficking if proper check is not done to establish the identity and genuineness of any person or group seeking to adopt any displaced child, feared Rev. Bulus Tsok, the Chairman of COCIN Provincial Church Council (PCC), Jos, during the Church’s humanitarian visit to IDP camps in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas.

Rev. Tsok warned that anyone seeking to adopt any child from any of the internally displaced persons camps must follow official procedure.

“All camp officials, parents and guardians of these children must be on the lookout.

“Do not be in a hurry to give out any child for adoption before you expose them to slavery or a situation where the child grows but doesn’t know his roots.

“Those that are genuine will make proper documentation and identification before taking any child and in most cases after rehabilitating the child and offering whatever support to them, they reunite them with their families and relations and not take them away forever,” Rev. Tsok said.

The cleric who was appreciative of government’s efforts in meeting the needs of the displaced persons however called for their return to their original places of abode.

“Life in an IDP camp is just next to prison life.

“You don’t have a choice of food, bed space, drinking water or anything that makes life comfortable.

“The poor conditions of the camps generally make life difficult, particularly slowing down their ability to heal from the traumatic experiences they must have had during the attacks,” the Church leader said.

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Plateau Killings: Displaced Children at Risk of Trafficking, fears Church