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Ikechi nzeako
No fewer than seven young Nigerian hirls who were allegedly trafficked to Mali, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire under false pretences have by Nigerian authorities following a coordinated intervention by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO).
The survivors, who hail from Plateau, Cross River and Edo states, narrated harrowing experiences of deception, exploitation and coercion after being lured with promises of legitimate jobs abroad.
The survivors disclosed that dozens of Nigerian girls are allegedly working under similar conditions in various locations across Mali, Burkina Faso, and other African countries.
According to their accounts, recruiters and agents promised them employment opportunities in boutiques, restaurants, phone accessory shops, domestic services, and other businesses in Mali and Burkina Faso, respectively.
However, upon arrival, they allegedly discovered that they had been trafficked into prostitution rings and were expected to engage in commercial sex work to repay debts ranging up to 1.5 million CFA francs.
One of the survivors, 22-year-old Sandy Sophia from Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, said she was persuaded by a friend who claimed to be working in Senegal.
Sophia explained that she repeatedly sought clarification about the nature of the job but was assured it was not sex work.
“I asked countless times if it was prostitution, and they kept telling me it was not. It was only after we reached Burkina Faso that they finally admitted it was prostitution,” she said.
Another victim, 19-year-old Rose, a graduate of Plateau State Polytechnic, disclosed that she had hoped to earn money to support her education and family.
“I was told I would be selling in a boutique and helping with cooking. My mother was initially reluctant to allow me to travel because of stories about girls being trafficked abroad, but I was assured it was genuine work. When we arrived in Mali, we discovered it was prostitution,” she recounted.
The survivors alleged that whenever they protested or demanded to return home, they were threatened with spiritual consequences, including claims that anyone who refused to comply or failed to repay their debt would become mentally unstable.
Seventeen-year-old Esther, one of the youngest victims, said she was recruited while working in Lagos after being promised a domestic service job. She narrated how she and others eventually escaped with the assistance of a Nigerian man from their community who was living and working in Mali.
Another 17-year-old victim from Cross River State said she and her sister were recruited by a man identified as Peter, who promised them jobs in his sister’s businesses abroad. Upon arrival, they were allegedly informed that they would have to engage in prostitution to repay transportation and migration expenses.
One of the survivors, Bless Inode Godwin from Cross River State, said she and other girls were recruited by a man identified as Malik, who assured them they would work in his sister’s businesses in Mali. However, upon arrival, they discovered they had been deceived and were instead forced into prostitution in a bar.
The survivors were allegedly informed that they owed millions of CFA francs to their traffickers and were pressured to engage in sex work to repay the debt. When they resisted, they were reportedly subjected to starvation, threats, and other forms of coercion.
During the handover of some rescued victims to community leaders from Plateau State, the president of the Birom Community Association in Lagos, Julius Bodiacubb, expressed concern over the rising cases of human trafficking affecting young women and called for stronger efforts to combat the crime.
In a related development two two young women from Edo State, Augusta and Elizabeth, have narrated how they were deceived and trafficked to Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire under the false promise of legitimate employment, only to be forced into prostitution.
Twenty-year-old Augusta, from the Owan area of Edo State, said she was introduced to the trip by a relative who convinced her family that she would secure a better life abroad. She travelled in February 2026, unaware of the true nature of the work awaiting her.
According to her, upon arrival in Burkina Faso, she discovered that she was expected to engage in commercial sex work. When she refused, she was physically assaulted and pressured to recruit other girls, including her own sister, into the trade.
Augusta revealed that despite generating significant income for her handlers, she was never given proper records of her earnings or debts. She said she was told she owed about 1.5 million CFA francs but was never informed how much she had repaid. She further disclosed that she became pregnant before travelling and endured severe hardship during her stay abroad.
Necessities such as food and water had to be paid for, while threats and intimidation were used to keep victims under control. Similarly, Elizabeth recounted how she accompanied Augusta after being promised legitimate work opportunities in Côte d’Ivoire. However, upon arrival, she discovered that the promised jobs did not exist and that she was also being forced into prostitution.
She described the living conditions as harsh and exploitative, saying she was compelled to surrender most of her earnings to her traffickers while receiving little or no support. Elizabeth, who was also pregnant during the period, said she feared for her life after being threatened and pressured to continue working despite her condition.
Both women said they were never informed of the true nature of the work before leaving Nigeria. They eventually sought help after realising they were trapped in a cycle of exploitation, debt bondage, and abuse. With the assistance of sympathisers and anti-trafficking advocates, several of the victims eventually escaped and were rescued. Mr Prosper from GAHTO facilitated their return to Nigeria.
Expressing relief and gratitude, they urged other young women to be cautious of promises of lucrative jobs abroad, warning that such offers often conceal human trafficking and sexual exploitation networks. “I am very happy to be back home,” one of the victims said, adding that she would advise other girls never to accept suspicious travel offers without proper verification.
The survivors appealed to government authorities, law enforcement agencies, and anti-human trafficking organisations to intensify efforts against traffickers who continue to lure unsuspecting young Nigerians abroad with false promises of employment, only to subject them to exploitation, abuse, and forced prostitution.
The rescue operation was facilitated by the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO) following a request from the NAPTIP Benin Zonal Command. The two victims from Benin were officially received by NAPTIP officials upon their arrival in Nigeria.
GAHTO reiterated its commitment to combating human trafficking and rescuing vulnerable Nigerians trapped in exploitation networks across Africa and beyond.
GAHTO urged members of the public, particularly young women seeking opportunities abroad, to thoroughly verify job offers and migration arrangements before embarking on any journey. The organisation also called on families and communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious recruitment activities to relevant authorities.
This report is based on the testimonies of the rescued victims and the information provided by the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO).
