Ex-United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking Persons in Africa and Professor of Law, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN has again raised her voice against human trafficking describing the morbit trade as an “abhorrent phenomenon that shames humanity.”
In post made on her X handle (formerly Twitter), the Senior Advocate of Nigeria who charged Nigerians to be observant and report any case of human trafficking said:
“Stop the trafficking: We must educate ourselves and others about the signs of trafficking and exploitation. Knowledge serves as our first line of defence.
“If you observe any signs of human trafficking, please report them immediately. Let us work together to prevent and combat this abhorrent phenomenon that shames humanity,’ she said.
Human trafficking has been referred to as not only being morally repugnant but also a security threat.
The Punch Editorial Board in an editorial titled “Bring human traffickers to justice“, cautioined that the “festering rights abuse, killings, exploitation, rape, and horror associated with human trafficking over the years have made it compelling for the government to devise a comprehensive strategy to check this ‘modern slavery.'”
The editorial observed that: “Human trafficking thrives partly due to the harsh economy that fosters hardship, hunger, and unemployment; the ignorance of unsuspecting Nigerians; and the fact that traffickers often operate without being apprehended, as the masterminds behind the illicit trade evade justice while only their foot soldiers are caught.
“According to the UNODC, 896 offences of trafficking in persons occurred in Nigeria in 2019; 934 in 2020; 1,112 in 2021; and 1,462 in 2022. Of the 1,462 recorded in 2022, 1,011 were brought to police attention, 120 were prosecuted, and 79 resulted in convictions.
“Human trafficking is a massive global economy. While the UN estimates the smuggling route from East, North, and West Africa to Europe generates $150 million in annual profits or $35 billion globally, Pathfinders Justice Initiative describes human trafficking as a $150 billion global industry. An ILO report states that forced labour generates $236 billion annually in illegal profits.
“The US 2022 Global Slavery Report states that Nigeria remains a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking.
“The 2023 Global Slavery Index ranks Nigeria 38th out of 160 countries with the highest number of slaves, with an estimated 1.6 million people affected.
“NAPTIP reports that between 2019 and 2022, 61 per cent of human trafficking in Nigeria occurred internally, while 39 per cent resulted from cross-border trafficking.
“It is the third most common crime in Nigeria after drug trafficking and economic fraud.
“Human trafficking operates as a network of cartels. Individuals known as “agents” recruit victims for their firms or clients across the globe. Traffickers often keep victims in hostels before selling them to clients who exploit them for coercive labour and sexual purposes.
“Traffickers lure, trick, and deceive vulnerable Nigerians, particularly those from rural areas who are semi-educated, impoverished, and desperate to escape the hardship in Nigeria, often seeing overseas work as a life-changing opportunity.
“The dynamics of human trafficking vary across regions. In Asia, it is characterised by ignorance, deceit, forced labour, and sexual coercion. In Europe and other regions, trafficking often involves a “binding pact,” where most victims are aware of their mission abroad.
“Thousands of desperate youths engage in self-imposed slavery, attempting dangerous crossings over the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, with many perishing in the process.
“Al Jazeera provides a graphic illustration of human trafficking:
“In Nigeria, women are recruited by a network of local ‘agents’ who sell them dreams of good pay and working conditions abroad. They persuade the women, process their visas, and send them to recruitment firms in Iraq for a commission of about $500 per woman, according to activists familiar with the system.
“Once in Iraq, the firms require the women, called ‘shagalas’ (meaning ‘house worker’ in Arabic), to sign two-year contracts and assign them to families or labour-intensive institutions like spas, where they often work more than 20 hours a day for a monthly pay of $200 to $250. In many homes, the women face inhumane treatment: they go days without food, are beaten, and are denied proper living quarters.”
“The International Organisation for Migration describes human trafficking dynamics in Europe:
“Most of the women …incur debts of anywhere between $40,000 and $100,000 to traffickers in their bid to reach Europe.”
“The dynamics of Nigerian trafficking are also characterised by the creation of a binding pact which both sides have to honour – the victim must pay off the debt regardless of the suffering endured along the way, and the trafficker must allow the victim to earn money for herself after the debt has been cleared. If the Nigerian victim is uncooperative, however, she may be subjected to a mixture of violence and coercive rituals.” This is horrendous.
“No country is spared from harsh economic realities and high unemployment. Only jobs in healthcare, multinational companies, and technology-related fields guarantee decent pay. People without relevant skills who travel abroad are often subjected to coercive labour exploitation, sexual assault, and menial jobs that strip them of their dignity. Agnes’ case demonstrates that friendship or blood relations should never be a reason to trust someone with securing a job abroad.
“Since human trafficking thrives on ignorance, poverty, and hardship, the government must implement robust economic policies, create an economy that works for all, and provide jobs to encourage youths to remain in the country while sensitising the public about the dangers of modern slavery.
“Nigeria should fully implement the Transnational Organised Crime Convention and the Trafficking in Persons Protocol 2000 as a signatory. Arresting traffickers alone is not enough—the big sponsors behind trafficking must be brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others.
“Governments and community leaders must take deliberate steps to educate and guide their youths against this menace. In 2017, Edo State launched the Task Force Against Human Trafficking to combat the scourge—other states should adopt similar initiatives.
“Security forces should collaborate to combat this crisis effectively. They must work with international security agencies, local communities, and promote whistleblowing to help curb the illicit trade.”
