Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau has decried the rising rate of child trafficking in the state.
The governor raised the concern when Mrs Linda Fom, the new Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in the state, visited him on Tuesday in Jos.
Mutfwang, who called for stiffer sanctions on the preparators of the crime, urged NIS to adopt measures toward addressing the menace.
“One of the challenges we are now facing is trafficking, particularly the girl child; it has assumed a very worrisome dimension.
“But I am glad to let you know that aside what the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Gender and Equality Commission are doing, we have also inaugurated a task force to look into this matter and come up with a road map.
“The task force will carry the NIS along so that we can work together to curb this menace” he said.
Mutfwang, who also decried the influx of foreign nationales into the state, called on the NIS to ensure all foreigners abide by the laws of the land.
“In one of the first flights from Abuja to Jos after the new year celebration, I observed that more than half of the passengers were foreign nationales who are resident in Jos.
“Until then, I never knew there are so many foreign nationales in the state.
“We are glad that our state is attracting people, but we must make sure that they live in accordance with our laws.
“I want to encourage the NIS to ensure that every foreigner is properly documented, and like I said, we love visitors, but they must learn to live in accordance with our extant laws.
“Where we find any of them instigating or indulging in act of criminality, we will not hesitate to deal with the person,” he warned.
The governor promised to support the new comptroller to succeed in her assignment in the state.
Earlier, Fom commended the governor for the spate of development in the state, particularly the decongestion of the Terminus market, among others.
She also commended the governor for the support granted the NIS toward the construction of its Flaghouse in the state.
“Terminus area before now was a time bomb waiting to happen, but I see what you have done there and we commend your effort.
“We thank you for intervening in the construction of our Flaghouse in Plateau, which before now was an embarrassment
“We also thank you for donating the operational motorcycles to the command.
“We have intercepted some traffickers in some parts of the state and this is not good for our security; but we will work hard to curb the menace,” she said.
(NAN)
