Some Nigerian women rescued from human trafficking in Côte d’Ivoire have narrated how they were deceived with fake job offers, only to be forced into prostitution, unpaid labour, and sexual exploitation.
The survivors Monica, 17; Juliet, 18; Rejoice, 25; Joy, 22; and Monica Tamah, 38 said traffickers preyed on their hope for a better life with promises of employment abroad.
According to a statement released on Thursday by the founder of the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation, Prosper Michael, the women were rescued in a joint operation by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Ivorian authorities.
One of the victims, 17-year-old Monica, said she accepted a bakery job offer in Abuja and informed her parents before being moved through Lagos to Côte d’Ivoire.
“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 said they were warned to lie to anyone who called that they were fine.
“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 and another victim eventually escaped with help from local residents and reached out to GAHTO.
*‘We Had to Repay Debts With Our Bodies’*
Another survivor, Monica Tamah, said she left Nigeria to support her family and pay her daughter’s school fees, but ended up trapped for six months.
“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.
She alleged that she and others were forced to sleep with up to 15 men daily.
“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 carried out the rescue with support from local authorities. The group added that three other victims from Benue State were rescued in a separate operation.
The organisation described the rescues as a major breakthrough in its fight against trafficking in West Africa.
“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,” the statement said.
GAHTO also called for stronger collaboration between governments, security agencies and international partners “to dismantle trafficking networks, rescue victims and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.”