Economic Hardship: Teenage Nigerian Girls Forced Into Prostitution In Ghana

Economic Hardship: Teenage Nigerian Girls Forced Into Prostitution In Ghana

As the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) intensifies its campaigns against human trafficking and aggressively targets those involved in the illicit trade, more Nigerians, particularly young girls, continue to fall victim to these nefarious activities.

Every day, media reports highlight the harrowing experiences of Nigerians trafficked to countries like Libya, Oman, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as other parts of Africa, Europe, and America. Economic hardship in Nigeria exacerbates the issue, with many victims deceived by promises of lucrative job offers.

Last week, social media buzzed with reports of Nigerian teenage girls, aged 15 to 18, trafficked to Ghana and forced into prostitution. A video showed Calistus Elozieuwa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Ghana branch, speaking with the rescued girls. Elozieuwa revealed that his organization received information about a Nigerian man mistreating the girls and forcing them into prostitution. A rescue team was promptly dispatched, resulting in the rescue of the girls and the arrest of the perpetrator.

Of the ten girls rescued, seven were from Imo State in Southeast Nigeria, and three were from Plateau State in Northcentral Nigeria. Notably, three of the girls from Imo State were siblings. The rescued girls included Miracle Odunukwe, Chiamaka Ikechukwu, Celina Danjuma, Mary, Divine, Joy Ayuba, Odunukwe Happiness, Nwachukwu Amarachi, and Odunukwe Onyinyechukuwu.

Public reaction to the news has been mixed, with some blaming parents and others pointing to the harsh economic conditions in Nigeria. Some argue that the girls were driven by greed and willingly took the risk for potential financial gain.

Elozieuwa condemned the traffickers’ actions, particularly highlighting the cruelty of luring three sisters into prostitution. He explained that the girls were promised sales jobs in Ghana but were forced into prostitution upon arrival.

Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, visited the girls after NIDO informed her Commission of the situation. Dabiri-Erewa praised Elozieuwa and his team and stressed the need for a permanent solution to eradicate human trafficking. She called for parents to be vigilant about their children’s whereabouts and urged collective efforts to name and arrest traffickers.

The girls will be handed over to NAPTIP, which will then transfer them to their respective states for counseling and rehabilitation. The Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Adeoye Ifedayo, also commended NIDO Ghana and stressed the importance of ending human trafficking.

Representatives from the Imo and Plateau State governments reiterated their commitment to the welfare and rehabilitation of the rescued girls. Migration Consultant and National Secretary of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), Nigeria, Osita Osemene, noted that such trafficking incidents are not new but are becoming increasingly common. He highlighted the need for more awareness and regional cooperation to combat trafficking.

Osemene participated in the rescue operation and emphasized the importance of collaboration between countries and civil society organizations. He praised the Ghanaian police for their proactive efforts and called for continued partnerships to reduce human trafficking.

Migration expert Mrs. Amaka Nneji attributed some of the issue to greed among young girls. She emphasized the need for increased awareness campaigns, particularly targeting parents, to prevent such incidents.

Public administrator Mr. Anthony Ugwuoke decried the moral decay in society and blamed poor parenting and bad governance for the situation. He stressed the importance of proper treatment and rehabilitation for the rescued girls to prevent further negative influence.

Comfort Adebisi, a trafficking victim in 2020, urged the government to intensify its enlightenment campaigns and enforce strict punishments for traffickers to deter future crimes. She noted that many victims are lured by promises of better opportunities, only to end up in horrific conditions.

Overall, the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria requires a multifaceted approach, including heightened awareness, stronger law enforcement, and improved socioeconomic conditions to prevent young people from falling prey to traffickers.