Nigerian trafficking survivors recount forced prostitution, abuse after rescue in Côte d’Ivoire

Survivors of a human trafficking ring have recounted how they were deceived with promises of lucrative jobs in Côte d’Ivoire, only to be subjected to forced labour, prostitution and months of exploitation before their rescue.

The victims—identified as Monica, 17; Juliet, 18; Rejoice, 25; Joy, 22; and Monica Tamah, 38—said traffickers preyed on their hopes of securing better opportunities abroad, only to force them into exploitative conditions after arriving in the West African country.

Their accounts were contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the founder of the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation, Prosper Michael, who said the victims were rescued in a joint operation involving the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and authorities in Côte d’Ivoire.

‘The jobs never existed’

One of the rescued victims, 17-year-old Monica, said she accepted what she believed was a genuine bakery job in Abuja before being moved through Lagos and eventually taken to Côte d’Ivoire.

“I informed my parents because I believed the offer was genuine,” she said. “When we arrived, we discovered there were no jobs. Instead, we were locked inside a room.”

She said the traffickers compelled the victims to reassure relatives that they were safe whenever they were allowed to make phone calls.

“When I spoke to my mother, I started crying, and they immediately seized the phone from me. They also kept deducting money from the little we earned without telling us why,” she recalled.

According to her, she and another victim eventually escaped with the assistance of local residents before contacting the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation, which coordinated their rescue.

‘We were forced into prostitution’

Another survivor, Monica Tamah, said she left Nigeria hoping to earn enough money to support her family and pay for her daughter’s education but instead found herself trapped in a prostitution ring.

“When we got there, we realised there were no jobs. We were told we had been brought there for prostitution and that we had to repay our transportation costs through sex work,” she said.

She alleged that victims were forced to have sex with up to 15 men every day while their captors collected about 50,000 CFA francs daily from the proceeds.

“They made about 50,000 CFA francs every day from us, but we received little or nothing,” she said. “I remained there for about six months before I was rescued.”

Joint rescue operation

GAHTO said its representative in Côte d’Ivoire worked with local authorities to secure the victims’ freedom. The organisation also disclosed that three additional trafficking victims from Benue State were rescued in a separate operation.

Describing the rescue missions as a significant success in the fight against human trafficking, the organisation urged Nigerians to exercise caution when seeking employment opportunities abroad.

“We urge Nigerians to verify overseas employment and migration offers through the appropriate government channels, remain vigilant against suspicious recruiters, and promptly report suspected trafficking cases to law enforcement agencies,” the statement said.

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

The rescue comes amid continued warnings by anti-trafficking agencies that criminal syndicates are increasingly exploiting unemployment and economic hardship by luring vulnerable Nigerians with false promises of jobs and better living conditions abroad.