A group of Nigerian women rescued from a human trafficking network has described the abuse and exploitation they endured after being deceived with promises of well-paying jobs in Côte d’Ivoire.
The victims said they accepted offers of employment in the hope of improving their lives, only to discover they had been trafficked and forced into prostitution and other forms of exploitation.
The rescue operation was carried out by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in collaboration with the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation and security authorities in Côte d’Ivoire.
One of the survivors, Monica, said she believed she was travelling for a legitimate bakery job after being recruited in Abuja. Instead, she and others were taken to Côte d’Ivoire, where they were allegedly held against their will.
“I informed my parents because I believed the offer was genuine. We later realised there were no jobs after we were locked in a room,” she said.
She explained that the victims were monitored closely and forced to assure their families that everything was fine whenever they were allowed to make phone calls.
“When I spoke to my mother, I started crying, and they immediately collected the phone from me. They kept deducting money from the little we earned without explaining why,” she added, noting that she eventually escaped with the help of residents who connected her with GAHTO.
Another survivor, Monica Tamah, said she travelled abroad hoping to support her family and provide for her daughter, but was instead forced into commercial sex work.
“When we got there, we discovered there were no jobs. Instead, we were told we had been brought for prostitution and had to repay transportation debts through sex work,” she said.
According to her, the traffickers forced the women to sleep with several men every day while keeping almost all the money they generated.
“They made about 50,000 CFA francs every day from us, but we received little or nothing. I remained there for about six months before I was rescued,” she said.
GAHTO said the operation also led to the rescue of three other trafficking victims from Benue State. The organisation described the mission as another step in the fight against human trafficking across West Africa.
It urged Nigerians to be cautious of attractive job and travel offers abroad, stressing the need to confirm such opportunities through the appropriate government authorities.
The organisation also called for stronger regional cooperation to dismantle trafficking syndicates, rescue more victims and prosecute those behind the crimes.
“We urge Nigerians to verify overseas employment and migration offers through appropriate government channels, remain vigilant against suspicious recruiters and promptly report suspected trafficking cases to law enforcement agencies.
“We also call for stronger collaboration among governments, security agencies and international partners to dismantle trafficking networks, rescue victims and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.”
