What began as a promise of a better life turned into a nightmare for 22-year-old Saviour Aloho after she was lured with the offer of a sales job in Lagos.
Trusting the people who introduced the opportunity, Saviour left home believing she was stepping into a legitimate job.
Instead, she was trafficked across borders and eventually taken to Burkina Faso, where she was forced into sex work.
“I trusted them because it came through someone I knew,” she said.
On arrival, she was told she owed her traffickers 1.6 million CFA francs, a debt she never agreed to. Unable to repay it, she was forced to work long hours under threats and violence.
Saviour’s experience mirrors that of 19-year-old Anita, who was also deceived and trafficked.
Anita said a neighbour who had just given birth asked her to travel to Lagos to meet someone who could help with hospital bills. She travelled with two others, unaware she was walking into a trap.
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When she arrived, she was told the supposed benefactor was in prison and had referred her to a man identified as “Mr Lucky.” From there, she was transported through Benin Republic and eventually taken to Burkina Faso, where she was forced into prostitution.
Both women described harsh living conditions, poor feeding and constant threats.
“We were beaten if we refused clients,” Saviour said.
Their rescue came through the intervention of Prosper K.A. Michael, founder of the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organization (GAHTO), with support from the Nigerian Embassy in Ouagadougou.
Now back in Nigeria and undergoing rehabilitation, the victims hope their stories will serve as a warning to other young women.
“Do not follow anyone who promises quick money or jobs abroad without proper verification,” Anita warned.
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