BEARS: Human Trafficking

Thirty Nigerian females stranded in Mali have been assisted to return back to the country voluntarily after spending years in the Francophone country. This is just as no fewer than 9 persons have been refused departure over suspicion of human trafficking from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA). It was learnt that these ladies came back to Nigeria after a harrowing experience in Mali with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

This crime has remained topic of concern in Nigeria as it is a source, destination and transit country. Young women and girls are particularly vulnerable as they are trafficked to other African countries, Europe or in the Middle East where they are forced into sex work. Oh! What a pity. This reemphasizes the need for the government to address the menace of unemployment in the country and ensure that youths are sensitized on the dangers of human trafficking.