UGONNA AGU
17 year old Chinenye Igbo [not real name], a native of Amaruru in Orsu Local Government area of Imo State, who resides with her indigent parents in Owerri city became a victim of trafficking for prostitution in June 2021 when a close kinsman introduced her to a woman who promised to take her to Ghana for a better life.
“I had ealier told him that I needed a job, no matter the pay.
“The woman showed me pictures of girls whom she said were doing well in their business in Ghana and had even built houses in their fathers’ houses. Little did I know they were prostitutes” She narrated.
Chinenye and her sister set out to Ghana through Lagos all by themselves without their parents’ consent.
They were being directed through numerous phone calls and were handed over from one middle man to another till they got to their destination.
It dawned on them that what they were promised was not what they had come for, when their ‘madam’ gave them skimpy outfits suitable for the job to change into.
“When we argued that, it was not what we were promised, she asked if we didn’t have sense enough to know what we were coming all the way from Nigeria to Ghana to do, that I would have to pay back all the expenses made, before she can let us go,” the poor said.
According to her, they were taken to a big place, with many girls in different rooms, and were threatened to be starved to death, if they didn’t work.
“That was how we started prostitution” chinenye said soberly.
All efforts to escape from the torture and agony of having different men ravaging their bodies, while their madam enjoyed the gains of their pains, proved abortive because they were not familiar with the terrain.
Luck shinned on her weeks after she was separated from her sister, and was taken to a far away city.
Her madam had gone to Accra, and a kind hearted customer helped her escape to the nearest police station.
The law enforcement agents advised her not to take up the matter in court, as that would delay her going back to Nigeria and expose her to further harm. She was handed over, and brought back to Nigeria by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Nigeria has been identified as a recruitment and transit route for external trafficking of children in Africa from time past.
Previously, there were more readily available statistics on the numbers of women who are trafficked from Nigeria to Europe, particularly to Italy.
According to IOM, approximately 11,000 women arrived via the Mediterranean Sea into Italy in 2016.
IOM estimated that 80% of those young women whose numbers soared from 1,454 in 2014 to 11,009 in 2016 – were likely forced into prostitution as sex trafficking victims.
However, it seems the tides have changed from inter- continental trafficking for prostitution, to intra continental, with West Africa as the hub.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) jointly with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in a release in July 2021, noted that three of every four victims of child trafficking in West Africa were below age 18.
IOM launched a programme in 2018, aimed at creating comprehensive data on sex trafficking and labour exploitation in Ghana, and to support the government’s 2017 strategy to combat the problem.
According to, a trafficking investigation by the US Department of State, of 49 women identified as potential victims of sex trafficking, 46 were Nigerians, and 22 of them were underage.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s human right trafficking act prescribes a minimum of 5 years imprisonment for all forms of trafficking for sexual exploitation.
17 year old Faith Okoye [not real name] from Uga in Anambra State, who assists her aunty in her business in Onitsha, became a victim of trafficking out of greed and lack of contentment for her part, and deceit by a childhood friend, who came in from Ghana for the Yuletide.
“I was paid #8,000 in the shop, but any loss I incurred was deducted from my salary,” she stated.
Faith’s friend convinced her that she could make a lot of money in Ghana through various available businesses and handwork.
“She went back to Ghana on Tuesday and was calling me to come with some other girls. I later travelled on a Saturday without my parents’ or any relative consent,” she said.
On her arrival in Ghana, she was handed over to other girls, who would help induct her into the job she came for.
They took her sim cards from her and broke them to cut her off communication with her family in Nigeria.
When life became unbearable and harsh for her, she sought for help and was able to escape to security agents, who handed her over to the IOM for safe return to Nigeria.
The above stories undoubtedly reflect the reality of trafficking for prostitution in West Africa.
This also violates the section 32 of the Nigerian Child’s Right Act, which states that a person who sexually abuses or sexually exploits a child in any manner commits an offence, liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 14 years.
KITS AND KIN INVOLVEMENT
Most victims of trafficking recall their ordeal started through a close relative, who deceived, convinced or persuaded them into accepting the offer.
Although national and state policies exist on child trafficking and labour, with Imo and Anambra among the 24 of the 36 states of the federation to domesticate the Child’s Right Act, child trafficking however remains a source of concern in the states and the country at large.
The case of Miss Chikamso Ekeocha from Ubomiri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, whose video went viral on social media platforms, comes to mind.
The 13 year old is one of the many Nigerians whose cases go against the Imo State Child Rights Law: section 29 sub section 1d, which states that no child should be employed as a domestic help outside his own home or family environment. Anyone who contravenes these provisions is liable upon conviction to a fine of not exceeding N50,000 naira or imprisonment for five years or both.
Chikamso joined the league of trafficked children forced into labour in 2018 when her indigent mother’s relation convinced her to release the little girl to one of her customers as domestic help.
Out of poverty and ignorance of the law, Chikamso’s mother gave her daughter out to the family of Mr. Uzoma Egemba.
The little girl’s video went viral on social media, when her guardian inflicted multiple deep wounds all over her body using a very hot spoon placed over gas flames.
“He placed the cooking spoon on a burning gas and used it to place all over my body because I rode his children’s bicycle,” she stated in pains.
Little Chikamso also narrated the harsh treatment and strokes of cane she received from her guardian at every slightest mistake.
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in June 2021 said the agency rescued 741 victims of trafficking, where 45% were under the age of 18, with majority trafficked within the country.
Altogether, about of 12 million Nigerian children are said to have been forced into labour, and 80% of them are victims of trafficking.
The apprenticeship culture in Anambra State, where a child is sent to live with and learn the trade of his master, has been identified as one form of trafficking for labour which most parents endorse ignorantly.
“Parents are actively involved, as they do not see apprenticeship as a crime, but rather, a culture of training a child into trading.
“Some parents frown at us when we try to intervene. They see it as a way of toughening the male child for the future,” Anambra State NAPTIP Commander, Mrs Judith Chukwu decried.
Mrs. Chukwu pointed out that 6 of every 10 cases received at the Command are on child trafficking, abuse and labour.
According to Mrs. Chukwu, most of these children go through emotional, psychological and physical abuse, but would not voice out because they need to learn the skill for a better future.
A member of Child Protection Network, a convergence of different Nongovernmental Organizations in Imo state, Mrs.Joy Onuoha explained that “Without trafficking, there will be no child labour. Although some parents out of poverty give out their children, no child under 18 should be given out as domestic help.”
Mrs. Onuoha narrated the story of a 10 year old boy, who was picked up by the police while roaming the streets of Owerri.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the boy was brought from Benue State to serve as a domestic help to a family in Mbieri in Mbailtoli Local Government Area of the state.
Although the culprit was not apprehended, his son testified that his father was in the business of trafficking children from Benue State to families in need of domestic help in Imo State for a fee.
The Non Governmental Organisation, with the help of the police, took the boy back to his state and reunited him with his family.
Apart from deceit and conviction, traffickers also thrive in oath taking to ensure unbroken allegiance and loyalty to their oppressors.
They demand for the victim’s head, armpit and pubic hairs and nails, which they make the victim believe, would be used for ritual bonding.
They threaten their victims with weighty consequences like madness, strange illness and death not only to them, but also their family members.
This accounts for most victims’ eternal silence even to agents and people who may be genuinely willing to help them get justice.
BABY FACTROY SYNDICATE
The issues of social homes, where babies are placed for sale without due process of adoption, is one of the prevalent cases of child trafficking in Imo and Anambra States. The baby factory system promotes child trafficking, creates room for exploiting young girls with undesirable conception.
“They open a home just to sell babies. One wonders where they get all these children from.
“Most are stolen children; they move them from their locations into the homes,” the Co-chairperson, Child Rights Implementation Committee in Anambra State, Miss Hope Okoye alleged.
Glory Akandu [not real name] from Ebem Ohaofia in Abia State was rescued by the Imo State Command of the Nigerian army from a baby factory home where she was kept and nurtured by the owner of the home, with the intention of paying her off after she put to bed and selling her baby to her customers.
“Some other girls come, they give birth, she settles them and they go,” Glory narrated.
Glory’s case is one of many cases of baby factory syndicates in Imo State and beyond.
The societal stigma attached to undesirable conception by teenagers and poor economic status force them to offer their babies for little financial gains.
The Imo State baby factory law of 2017, states that anyone who operates an establishment where babies are transacted illegally or recruits a pregnant woman to provide for, harbor, or maintain a pregnant woman either voluntarily or by force for the purpose of selling or disposing of the baby when born, under the guise, including adoption after delivery is liable to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of five million naira and immediate sealing and closure of the establishment.
27 year old Ijeoma Opareche from Mbieri in Imo State narrated how her three months old son was stolen from her by a certain Obinna Eze from Ikeduru Local Government Area of the state, who promised to marry her, regardless of her undesirable conception.
Mr. Eze after meeting her family for the traditional rights, suggested she followed him to his own village to meet with his family.
He connived with his supposed sister to elope with Ijeoma’s baby in the market where they claimed to purchase items for the visit.
Although the baby has been found and reunited to his family, Ijeoma refused to give details on how the baby was found, noting that the matter was in court and she had no right to disclose further information.
According to Ijeoma, through the search for her missing son, the culprit confessed and released four other babies he had stolen and sold.
The NAPTIP Commander in Anambra State, Mrs. Judith Chukwu, said the command had recovered many children who were sold outside the state.
“Some time this year, the military at a check point in the state intercepted two 4 year old boys from different parents, who were paired as twins and were being taken from Anambra to Lagos state,” the NAPTIP Commander said.
The military operatives in Imo State in September, arrested one Mrs. Joy Duru from Ideato South Local Government Area of the state who allegedly specialized in luring and kidnapping unassuming children and selling them off to Mrs. Favor Amefule, an auxiliary nurse from Etche, who runs Nneolu Orphange in Rivers State.
“I have sold two girls to her. I took the first one a two year old from one Anglican church in Nkwere,” she confessed.
“After the first one, she called me on phone that customers are disturbing her, I took the second one from Okwele in Ideato South,” she continued.
Mrs. Duru further confessed to have been paid #25,000.00 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira) on the first transaction and #350,00.00) three hundred and fifty thousand naira on the second child.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Mrs. Amaegbule also harbours pregnant young girls and make them sign papers to give up their babies after birth.
She confessed that she buys the babies at #500,000.00 (five hundred thousand naira) and sells to customers at a higher price.
A popular baby factory in Owerri North Area of Imo State was also mentioned, where women seeking to conceive are deceived on cryptic pregnancy, only to be charged huge amount of money in exchange of their desired gender of baby, at the end of their “fake pregnancy period.”
All efforts by this reporter to get further information on this baby factory from relevant authorities, proved abortive.
Victims of this cryptic baby centre also refused to provide further information because they are also guilty of section 5 sub section 2 of the Imo State Baby Factory law, which states that anyone who without having participated in the process and does not make a report of any of these acts to the law enforcement agency, is also guilty of such offence, and is liable to 5 years imprisonment with a fine of 5 million naira, depending on the offender.
The Co-chair Person Child Right Implementation Committee in Anambra state, Mrs. Hope Okoye, said that the committee was in close surveillance on 40 social homes in the state to make sure they were not into illicit buying and selling of babies and had uncovered some unregistered homes where such illicit acts were being perpetrated.
PLAYERS AND FACTORS
Child trafficking, a low risk, yet lucrative crime, is a global phenomenon, which continues to grow against all odds due to the prevalence of push factors such as humanitarian crisis around the world, poverty, and exclusion (UNODC, 2019a).
Players in the Child Trafficking business involve people, who participate in organized criminal activity.
They are most times supported by some prominent figures within and outside government.
They include the recruiter– those who deceive, convince the family members or kidnap the child; the sellers– those who harbor and give the child out for gains, and the receivers.
There are also monitors who follow up to ensure safe delivery of the assignment.
Sadly, owners of brothels and orphanage homes as well as their members of staff and surprisingly health practitioners are most times among the syndicate.
Experience has shown that involvement of prominent figures in the syndicate hinders justice in most cases.
“Most of the perpetrators, when arrested are often released on bail without our knowledge,” a member of an NGO in Imo state, Mrs Joy Onuoha decried.
She further disclosed that most perpetrators when apprehended opt to settle out of court with the family of the victim.
Mrs. Onuaha also traced the upsurge in child trafficking to insecurity in the south eastern part of the country, especially in Imo and Anambra States, which has hampered sensitization in the hostile communities, thus giving room for traffickers to prey on the environment.
According to 2016 Global Slavery Index Report, there are 834,000 Nigerians who are victims of modern slavery.
Of this figure, a huge number are recruited from rural areas in Nigeria for involuntary domestic servitude and sexual exploitation.
Despite the widely publicized awareness and sensitization against this well organized crime, the ugly trend is on the increase.
The Imo State Commander, NAPTIP, Mr. Enesrt Ogbu, said his command had taken pains in engaging in massive sensitization in schools, churches, markets and communities on the hazards of child trafficking and labour.
This is in line with NAPTIP law section 12 sub section 3a-c, yet he said “cases of trafficking keeps increasing by the day.”
He blamed the increase on poverty, noting that some indigent parents send their children out to do menial jobs and bring money home.
“The brain behind trafficking is poverty; greed; unemployed parents; peer influence; ignorance of the law; societal influence; political instability and insecurity; crisis and natural disaster. These expose children to labor and trafficking,” he said.
The rising wave of child trafficking has also been attributed to lack of proper documentation and monitoring of orphanages in the states.
Section 128 of the Anambra State Child Rights Law deals with the procedures, which must be followed for the adoption of a baby, which are fragrantly abused by operators of illegal homes.
The law in its section 171 empowers the state government to inspect premises as part of the ways to fight child trafficking.
The state has also established family courts as provided for in section 152 of the law.
The Imo State Coordinator of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mrs. Ukachi Ukah, is of the opinion that proper registration and monitoring of orphanages and process of adoption would help in limiting cases of illegal social homes and child trading.
The Anambra State NAPTIP Commander, Mrs. Judith Chukwu, noted that some adopters would rather go through the illegal orphanages to buy children than follow the legal process of adoption.
Lack of education for the part of parents, ineffective legislation and lack of implementation of legal instruments have all been traced to factors why the menace is yet to abate.
Children find it difficult to report abuse due to fear of their traffickers and the oat of allegiance they swore.
Teenage girls used for baby production find it difficult to report due to fear of societal stigmatization and illegal status of conception, or a situation whereby they voluntarily sold out their babies.
Also hampering the fight against child trafficking is the cold attitude of the victims towards those who wish to help them.
This is due to personal shame or the nature of their indoctrination into the system as well as fear of the respective authority in their host countries.
Some of the victims encountered in the course of this report would rather not disclose information for fear of not being sure of their security, and their indirect involvement in the act.
GOVERNMENT INADEQUACY.
Trafficking can have devastating consequences on children, including long-lasting physical and psychological trauma, sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy, and mental health problems, such as depression and suicidal ideation.
Trafficked children are most times denied the basic rights of survival, family life, education and private life.
They are exposed to labour, which are more than their young age and this adversely affects their growth and development.
The NAPTIP Commander in Imo State, Mr. Enesrt Ogbu, narrated a story of a 13 year old girl, who was put under sexual exploitation, where about four men had carnal knowledge of her daily and this caused her urinary inconsistency.
Although laws on child trafficking abound, government’s inability to show commitmeny in implementing the laws, seems to be the major issue bothering around child trafficking in both Anambra and Imo States.
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) maintains that successful prosecution of child traffickers is the surest way to send a message that trafficking will not be tolerated.
Adequate sanction on offenders would serve as a means to deter possible offenders from venturing into the business.
Preventive actions are more focused on addressing the actual practices of child trafficking, specifically by implementing legal frame work that are aimed to deter and prosecute offenders.
Liaison offices for NAPTIP were set up in Anambra State in 2020 and in Imo State in 2021.
In their few years of operation, government is yet to provide them with adequate equipment and enabling environment to function properly.
Although the commands do not have a befitting office, operational vehicle or shelter to accommodate rescued victims, the NAPTIP Command in Anambra State has in its 2 years of operation, arrested over 90 persons on matters relating to trafficking, with over 45% of the cases, bothering on child while Imo State Command has made about 9 arrests in its barely 18 months of operation.
The Victims need to be provided with individualized and supportive physical and psychological rehabilitation in order to help them establish, recuperate and reintegrate into the system.
Lack of shelter and rehabilitation centre to keep the victim when rescued, while investigation is ongoing, is one of the issues hampering the fight against child trafficking.
This makes the victim prefer remaining in the comfort of the abductors, rather than being exposed to harsh conditions of safety.
Weak judicial system and incessant adjournments are also hindrances government should look into.
Cases of child trafficking should be treated with urgency and the perpetrators sentenced.
With several laws taking care of various aspects of this heinous crime, some of its provisions are weak and do not provide enough determent.
It is suggested that enforcement should be made diligent.
In the 5 states of the south east, only the Enugu Zonal Command has a shelter for safe keeping and rehabilitation victims.
Imo State does not have inaugurated task force on human trafficking.
Although Anambra State has, all the arrests and cases from both states are transferred to Enugu for prosecution and this also delays justice.
The Anambra State NAPTIP Commander suggested that for child trafficking to be abated, more massive and periodic sensitization of the public needs to be put in place.
She also suggested that punitive measures be meted on anyone who harbors a child under the age of 18 as a domestic help, and a law should be passed, banning the children in a shop during school hours.
Her counterpart in Imo State is of the opinion that the creation of an adhoc committee, comprising law enforcement agencies, relevant authorities and stake holders to address the issue of child trafficking, would help to put an end to the heinous crime.
Training and retraining of law enforcemnt agents who partner NAPTIP in the campaign is also recommended.
These agencies, most times, arrest the victims before handing them over to NAPTIP, therefore, enabling them with the rudiments of dealing with such cases is vital.
The fight against child trafficking falls within the purview of any state government.
Both state and Federal Governments, civil society organizations, socio cultural groups and everyone should put hands on deck to curb the menace of child trafficking to give children a good future.
