How we were forced into prostitution in Cote d’Ivoire — Nigerian survivors

Several Nigerian survivors of human trafficking have narrated how they were deceived with promises of jobs and a better life in Côte d’Ivoire, only to be subjected to forced labour, prostitution and sexual exploitation.

The victims, identified as Monica, 17; Juliet, 18; Rejoice, 25; Joy, 22; and Monica, 38, were rescued in a joint operation involving the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), authorities in Côte d’Ivoire and the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO).

In a statement issued on Thursday, GAHTO founder, Prosper Michael, said the victims were trafficked from Nigeria under the guise of securing legitimate employment.

One of the survivors, Monica, 17, said she accepted what she believed was a bakery job in Abuja before she was transported 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 alleged that the traffickers forced the victims to assure their families they were safe whenever they were allowed to make phone calls.

“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 said, adding that she eventually escaped with another victim after receiving help from local residents, who assisted them in contacting GAHTO.

Another survivor, Monica Tamah, said she travelled to Côte d’Ivoire hoping to earn enough to support her family and fund her daughter’s education but was instead forced into prostitution.

“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 remained in captivity for about six months and was forced to sleep with up to 15 men daily while her traffickers collected about 50,000 CFA francs each day from the exploitation.

“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 said its representative in Côte d’Ivoire carried out the rescue operation with support from local authorities and also secured the freedom of three other trafficking victims from Benue State in a separate operation.

The organisation described the rescues as a major milestone in efforts to combat human trafficking across West Africa and urged Nigerians to verify overseas job offers through relevant government agencies before travelling.

It also called for stronger collaboration among governments, security agencies and international partners to dismantle trafficking networks, rescue victims and prosecute those responsible.