Three young Nigerian women have recounted how they were deceived with promises of overseas employment in Malaysia, only to be trafficked across West Africa and forced into sexual exploitation in Mali.
The victims identified as Bella Boluwatife, Linda Zainab, and Amoke Joy said they were recruited by an agent who promised them legitimate jobs abroad, including work in hospitality and domestic services.
Their families were reportedly reassured during the recruitment process, including staged video calls with individuals presented as foreign sponsors.
According to the survivors, their journey began in Ogun State, from where they were transported through the Seme border into Benin Republic.
They said their documents were quickly processed, their identities altered, and they were instructed on what to say if questioned by authorities along the route.
What initially appeared to be a legal migration process reportedly turned into a long overland trip through multiple countries.
The victims said they eventually spent several days traveling by road until they reached Mali, where the reality of their situation became clear.
They described being taken to remote locations where they met other young women living in harsh conditions. The victims said they were informed they had incurred a large “debt” that they were expected to repay, effectively trapping them in a cycle of exploitation controlled by their traffickers.
The women also reported that their personal belongings, including phones, were seized, and they were assigned to different handlers who controlled their movements and earnings.
Attempts to refuse participation, they said, were met with threats and psychological pressure.
One of the survivors, Joy, managed to contact her family in Nigeria, which triggered a rescue effort.
Related News:
NDLEA Arrests Doctor, Ivorian Over Cocaine Trafficking
15 Trafficking Victims Rescued by Osun Police, Suspects Arrested
Medical doctor remanded for alleged child trafficking in Enugu
Police Recover 450 Stolen Motorcycles, Rescue Victim in Major Imo Crackdown
Trump Issues Military Warning Over Iranian Fast Boats Approaching US Blockade
Her relatives reached out to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Lagos Zonal Command, which coordinated with the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organization (GAHTO) and Nigerian diplomatic officials in Mali.
Following intervention by the authorities and partner organisations, the traffickers eventually released the victims and arranged their return to Nigeria. The survivors said they were later transported back home after pressure mounted on the criminal network.
Founder of GAHTO, Prosper K. A. Michael, described the incident as part of a wider pattern of transnational trafficking networks that prey on vulnerable youths with false job offers.
He explained that victims are often moved across borders, stripped of documentation, and forced into exploitative conditions resembling modern slavery.
He added that similar rescue operations have been carried out in other countries, including Libya, Egypt, and Iraq, warning that such criminal networks continue to target Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad.
Now back in Nigeria, the survivors say they are trying to rebuild their lives while urging others to be cautious of suspicious overseas job offers that require rapid travel or involve unfamiliar intermediaries.
About the Author
