Human Trafficking: Thousands of Nigerian Women are into Sex Slavery ...House Demands Training of Border Officials by NAPTIP

To curb the alarming rise of sex slavery Nigerian women are subjected to, the House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) at the ports and borders of Nigeria to make it mandatory for all border officials of all security agencies to be trained by National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Also, the House has reported that several Nigerian women are regrettably into sex slavery across the world.

It therefore directed NIS to permit trained NAPTIP officials to operate, spot, identify and prevent the illicit emigration of potential victims.

The House also urged NAPTIP to begin to shame the traffickers in their homes, including the widespread publication of the names and pictures of convicted traffickers.

The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion titled: 'Need to Investigate the Degrading Sex Slavery Nigerian Women are Subjected to’, which was jointly sponsored by Hons. Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum, Yunusa Ahmed Abubakar, Zakariya Nyampam, Abubakar Hassan Fulata, Kwamoti Bitrus Laori, Babajimi Benson, Sada Soli and Dachung Musa Bagos.

Moving the motion, Kwewum noted that there are thousands of Nigerian women and even underage girls have been reportedly turned into sex slaves in European and several Middle East countries and well as other parts of the world.

He said the House is aware that NAPTIP has conducted several investigations and discovered that between 20,000 and 30,000 Nigerian girls are sex slaves with 50 additional girls being added to the list everyday.

The lawmaker bemoaned the ill-treatment the neighbouring West African countries apply on Nigerian women by keeping them as sex slaves and providing safe haven for perpetrators of human trafficking.

He worried that the continuation of this activity has dented the image of the country, saying it provides room for other West African countries to disrespect, not just Nigerian women, but all Nigerians.

According to him, "President Muhammadu Buhari in Sochi, Russia, recently gave the assurance to the effect that the Nigerian Government would stretch its reach and capacity to protect all Nigerians all over the world. We are aware that recently, the Nigerian Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Ramatu Ahmed, raised the alarm that no fewer than 10,000 Nigerian women, mainly under-aged girls, are forced into prostitution in Ouagadougou and other mining camps across West Africa. Many of the victims were deceived by friends and relatives to leave Nigeria for greener pastures (mostly domestic work, hair dressing or sales) in 'Mali-sia' only to discover later that they were being used for sex trade.

"Nigerian girls are trafficked mainly to the mining areas in the South and Central part of Mali, but a substantial number are trafficked to rebel held areas in the North of Mali, where they stand the risk of being radicalised. The border point between Nigeria and Benin Republic at Seme-Krake is notoriously porous and in spite of numerous reports and pictures of notorious trafficking sent to Nigerian security agencies at the border, no action has been taken to curb the practice."

Kwewum, while commending the current efforts made to combat the menace, however, said it is not far reaching and comprehensive, and have not been adequately funded.