Cintia Adaeze Aghaelina, Jadetimes Staff
C.A. Aghaelina is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Societal News
Human trafficking is a global crisis with millions of victims lured into slavery under false pretense. Information from the Global Slavery Index reveals that Africa makes up 14% of human trafficking worldwide which means about 7 million people in Africa are victims of modern-day slavery—both physical and sexual exploitation. This means Africa is the second highest region for human trafficking—Asia and the Pacific have the highest rate of human trafficking.
Being one of the most common form of human trafficking,sex trafficking is one of the grave issues affecting countless individuals most especially young girls and women worldwide and it accounts for nearly 80% of all trafficking cases around the world. Today we share the story of a courageous woman victim of this form of trafficking but who despite unimaginable hardships found her way to freedom and for her own safety she will remain anonymous.
Jane as we will call her was living with her mom and stepdad in Nigeria, but due to the maltreatment from her stepdad and her mom’s silence to the constant abuse she could no longer bear staying with them. At the time, she hawked dried fish for her mom as she was forced to drop out because her mother used the earnings from her hawking business to support her stepdad instead of investing in her daughter’s education. So one day, while hawking, she met an acquaintance we will call Mike, who told her about an opportunity to work in Italy. Desperate to escape her abusive home life and encouraged by the friend's promises, she agreed to go. On a fateful morning, she left her house to Mike’s place, where he made some calls to a foreign number and shortly after, they were joined by two ladies as the begin of the journey for a better life which she thought began. That very day, they left for Kano State, upon reaching a park there, they met a man named Abubakar, who took them to a Fulani village. From there, a taxi carried them and another girl to Zendel, where they were kept in poor conditions for three weeks. She had questions as to why the journey was so but she wasn’t given any reasonable answer and a there wasn’t any turning back. They continued their journey by bus to Agadez in Niger, and then in the back of a Hilux vehicle through the desert. As a result of the harsh conditions two people died before they reached Gatrone, Libya, where they drank salt water and moved to Sabha. Six Hilux vehicles traveled together until they diverged, and she, along with one other lady, was taken to Benghazi. Despite all the hardships Jane had already endured on her journey, the nightmare was far from over.
After reaching Benghazi, her situation took an even darker turn. In her own words, she recounts what happened next: « I was taken to a connection house in Benghazi, known as an ashawo house, where they tried to force me into prostitution. Because I refused to cooperate, they beat me severely, leaving me with injuries and scars that I still carry to this day. But even after all of that, I still refused.Frustrated by my resistance, they decided to dump me in an Arabian household, where I worked as a house help and a nanny to their one-year-old child. The mother was a medical doctor, so she was barely home, and I was left to take care of everything. I stayed there for two years because they told me I had to pay off the money they spent on me. In 2017, my salary was 1000 dinars, but even after those two years, they refused to let me go.I couldn't take it anymore, so I ran away. But while running, I ended up in the hands of the Libyan police. I thought they would help me because they were in uniform, but they were brutal and mean. I only approached them for help, but instead, they took me somewhere... and that’s when I realized I was in prison. There, I met many other Nigerians in the same situation. I honestly thought they would take me to my country’s embassy. At one point, they even called a Nigerian man to speak to me, and he told me I had to pay them 6000 dinars to get out. »
Like many survivors, Jane endured unspeakable trauma due to this gruesome travail and prefers to keep some parts of her story private. However, her courage in speaking out at all highlights the lasting scars left behind by sex trafficking, as well as every other form of trafficking. Most survivors of this type of trafficking, even after being rescued, struggle with mental health challenges ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to depression, as they work to rebuild their lives after escaping. Though some survivors manage to rise above the painful experience and make the best of their lives, many face an uphill battle.
A lot of organizations, both international and local, along with the help of individuals across the world, work tirelessly to provide survivors with shelter, counseling, and legal assistance, helping them reclaim their lives and futures. Without these resources, many would remain trapped in cycles of trauma and exploitation.
Jane’s story is a stark reminder of the ongoing fight against human trafficking. While she has found freedom, countless others remain trapped. It's crucial that we raise awareness, support victims, and work towards a world where no one has to endure such horrors. Jane’s story is also a call for all of us to be vigilant. Many, like Jane, are deceived with false promises and exploited. It is very important to do due diligence, no matter how tempting an offer may seem, especially when dealing with countries with high rates of human trafficking. Before embarking on any journey to an unfamiliar place, ensure that you have trusted contacts, financial resources, and the necessary information to protect yourself, as the saying goes " it's better to be cautious than regret it later".
