Several survivors of human trafficking have recounted how they were deceived with promises of lucrative jobs and better living conditions in Côte d’Ivoire, only to end up trapped in forced labour, prostitution and sexual exploitation.
The victims, identified as Monica, 17; Juliet, 18; Rejoice, 25; Joy, 22; and another Monica, 38, said traffickers exploited their hopes for a brighter future by offering what appeared to be genuine employment opportunities outside Nigeria.
Their rescue followed a joint operation involving the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO) and security authorities in Côte d’Ivoire.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the founder of GAHTO, Prosper Michael, the coordinated operation led to the safe rescue of the victims from different locations where they had been held.
Narrating her experience, 17-year-old Monica said she accepted what she believed was a bakery job in Abuja before she was transported through Lagos to Côte d’Ivoire.
She explained that she informed her parents before travelling because she genuinely believed the employment offer was legitimate.
“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 disclosed that the traffickers instructed them to reassure their families that everything was fine whenever they were allowed to make phone calls.
According to her, any attempt to reveal the true situation attracted immediate punishment.
“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.
Monica said she eventually escaped alongside another victim after receiving assistance from compassionate local residents, who helped them establish contact with GAHTO.
Another survivor, identified as Monica Tamah, said she travelled abroad with the hope of improving her family’s financial situation and providing quality education for her daughter.
Instead, she said she was forced into prostitution immediately after arriving in Côte d’Ivoire.
“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, she remained in captivity for about six months before she was eventually rescued.
Monica alleged that she and several other women were compelled to sleep with as many as 15 men every day.
“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 disclosed that its representative in Côte d’Ivoire coordinated the rescue operation with the support of local authorities.
The organisation also revealed that three additional victims from Benue State were rescued during a separate operation carried out within the same period.
The anti-trafficking organisation described the successful rescues as another major step in its ongoing campaign against human trafficking across West Africa.
It urged Nigerians to thoroughly verify overseas employment opportunities and migration offers through recognised government agencies before accepting them.
The organisation also advised members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious recruiters or suspected trafficking activities to relevant law enforcement agencies.
“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,” the statement added.
