Nigerians Rescued from Sex Trafficking in Côte d’Ivoire

Several Nigerians, including Monica (17), Juliet (18), Rejoice (25), Joy (22), and Monica Tamah (38), were rescued from trafficking syndicates in Côte d’Ivoire after being deceived by promises of lucrative jobs. The victims were exploited due to their desperation for better economic opportunities and were transported from Nigeria to Côte d’Ivoire.

The rescue operation involved the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, local authorities in Côte d’Ivoire, and the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO). Prosper Michael, the founder of GAHTO, stated that the operation followed months of abuse suffered by the victims.

Monica recounted accepting a supposed bakery job in Abuja, only to find herself locked in a room in Côte d’Ivoire. Another survivor, Monica Tamah, revealed she was forced into prostitution to repay transportation debts.

GAHTO emphasized the need for Nigerians to verify overseas job offers and called for stronger collaboration to combat trafficking networks.