Several Nigerians rescued from a human trafficking ring in Côte d’Ivoire have narrated how they were deceived with promises of employment before being forced into prostitution, labour exploitation and other forms of abuse.
The victims, identified as Monica, 17; Juliet, 18; Rejoice, 25; Joy, 22; and Monica, 38, were rescued during a joint operation involving the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, authorities in Côte d’Ivoire and the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation.
The founder of GAHTO, Prosper Michael, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the operation led to the victims' freedom after months of captivity.
One of the survivors, Monica, said she accepted what she believed was a bakery job in Abuja before she was moved through Lagos to Côte d’Ivoire.
According to her, she informed her parents because she thought the offer was genuine, but on arrival, she and others discovered there were no jobs and were instead locked up by their traffickers.
She alleged that the victims were compelled to assure relatives they were safe whenever they were allowed to make phone calls, despite being subjected to forced labour and having deductions made from the little money they earned.
"When I spoke with my mother, I started crying and they immediately collected the phone from me. They kept deducting money from what we earned without explaining why," she said, adding that she eventually escaped with another victim after receiving help from residents, who assisted them in contacting GAHTO.
Another survivor, Monica Tamah, said she travelled to Côte d’Ivoire hoping to support her family and finance her daughter's education but was instead forced into commercial sex work.
She alleged that the traffickers claimed the victims had to repay transportation expenses through prostitution and that she remained in captivity for about six months before being rescued.
"They made about 50,000 CFA francs from us every day, but we received little or nothing. I stayed there for about six months before I was rescued," she said, alleging that the victims were made to sleep with several men daily.
GAHTO also disclosed that three additional victims from Benue State were rescued in a separate operation, describing the missions as a significant step in the fight against human trafficking across West Africa.
The organisation urged Nigerians to verify overseas job offers through appropriate government agencies, remain vigilant against suspicious recruiters and promptly report suspected trafficking cases to law enforcement authorities.
0 Comments