Nigerian survivors rescued from sex slavery recount Côte d’Ivoire ordeal

Survivors of human trafficking have recounted their ordeal after being lured from Nigeria to Côte d’Ivoire with promises of employment, only to fall victim to forced labor, prostitution, and sexual exploitation. The rescued individuals, including Monica, 17; Juliet, 18; Rejoice, 25; Joy, 22; and Monica, 38, described how traffickers preyed on their hopes for a better future.

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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.

According to Prosper Michael, founder of the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO), the victims were rescued in a joint operation involving GAHTO and relevant authorities in Côte d’Ivoire. Monica shared how she accepted a bakery job offer in Abuja, believing it was genuine, but was instead taken to Côte d’Ivoire where she and others were locked in a room with no jobs available.

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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.

Victims reported being forced to work and repay transportation debts through sex work. Monica Tamah stated she was forced into prostitution and remained in captivity for about six months, claiming she and other victims were compelled to sleep with as many as 15 men daily. Traffickers allegedly made significant profits, around 50,000 CFA francs daily per victim, while the survivors received little to nothing. GAHTO emphasized the importance of verifying overseas job offers and urged for stronger collaboration among governments and international partners to combat human trafficking.

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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.