Nigerian activist Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, has condemned the country’s weak border enforcement following the return of dozens of trafficked Nigerian girls from Côte d’Ivoire.
Speaking at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Sunday, shortly after 78 victims were repatriated, Otse criticized immigration authorities for their failure to prevent the girls from being trafficked in the first place.
“It’s good they’re back,” he said. “But how did they leave? Immigration is more concerned with stopping rice smugglers than traffickers.”
His comments reflect rising concern over human trafficking in West Africa, with estimates suggesting that over 500 Nigerian girls are trafficked each week under the false promise of work, only to face exploitation abroad.
Otse stressed that efforts should shift from rescue to prevention. “We can’t keep welcoming them back while doing nothing to stop the cycle,” he said.
“Trafficking isn’t just happening overseas. Look at our streets many of those kids begging have been trafficked too.”
He also pointed to deeper social and economic drivers behind trafficking, including the influence of returnees who display newfound wealth in rural communities.
“When these so-called rich aunties come back showing off, villagers want to know their secret. Next thing, mothers are giving away their daughters,” Otse said.
Calling for urgent change, he urged the government to reform border control systems and invest in grassroots awareness campaigns. “I have sisters this hits home. Immigration has to step up. If we don’t tackle this now, it won’t stop.”
The 78 girls were returned with the help of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which is currently providing them with care and rehabilitation support in Lagos.
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