Trafficking in State

Human trafficking exists in every states in Nigeria, and Abia State is a source and destination state for human trafficking victims. Women, young men, and children are subjected under different forms of exploitation such as child labour, the use of apprenticeship for exploitation, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation. The illegal maternity homes are christened, “baby factories, as their operators use them as camps where women and teenage girls are kept and made to bear babies that are later sold.” There are incidences where couples sell their children; and teenage mothers deceived to sell their new born babies at “illegal orphanage homes” or baby factories. According to National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons(NAPTIP) 2017 Data Analysis, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 52 survivors are from Abia State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Adamawa state is not an exemption. According to the NAPTIP 2017 data analysis, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 7 survivors are from Adamawa State. Child trafficking molestation of girls in Internally Displaced Persons’ camp in the state occurs regularly.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria and Akwa Ibom is not an exemption. Akwa Ibom is among the top ranking state where human trafficking prevails in Nigeria. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 63 survivors are from Akwa Ibom State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Anambra state is not an exemption. There are human trafficking incidences in Anambra State which have been intervened by NAPTIP. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested 11 persons-8 women and 3 men for suspected child trafficking, abduction and sale of children. They were arrested in different parts of Anambra state in a combined operation carried out with the support of the operatives of the Directorate of the State Services (DSS). Three children whose ages range from 8 months to 4 years were recovered during the operation while scores of other children believed to have been trafficked by the gang are yet to be found. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 63 survivors are from Anambra State.

Bauchi state is another state where trafficking of human beings takes place. In October 2016, 450 kidnapped girls were rescued by security agents in collaboration with Bauchi State government. Also, within the same year, three traffickers were arrested for child trafficking. According to the 2017 NAPTIP Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 85 survivors are from Bauchi State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Bayelsa state is also not an exemption. Two human traffickers were arrested in Bayelsa by Nigerian police for alleged involvement in trafficking of female teenagers from a community called Ekowe in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the Bayelsa State. There are still many other unseen stories of human trafficking in Bayelsa. According to the 2017 NAPTIP Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 15 survivors are from Bayelsa State.

Benue state is another state where trafficking of human beings takes place. Benue State Police Command arrested a Prince who was caught on Easter Sunday in Buruku local government area of the state for conveying 23 people out of the state in an 18-seater bus for different forms of exploitation. According to the 2017 NAPTIP Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 118 survivors are from Benue State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Borno state is also not an exemption. The kidnapping and exploitation of Chibok Girls in 2014 and Dapchi girls in 2017 by members of Boko Haram sect showed another dimension of human trafficking in Nigeria. Due to insurgency in Borno State, children, women and girls have been exploited. According to the 2017 NAPTIP Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 20 survivors are from Borno State.

Human trafficking happens in every state in Nigeria. In Cross River state, Calabar is usually the route to the port of Limbe in the neighboring Cameroon, then another boat to Gabon which costs up to 350,000 CFA francs per migrant, according to those who have made the journey in Gabon. The commissioner for justice in Cross River state, Joe Abang, once raised an alarm that Calabar has become “the transit haven for traffickers” to “perpetrate their nefarious activities” because of a crackdown against smuggling in neighboring states. The trip from Calabar to Gabon and beyond takes several days and according to a report is “very well organized by unscrupulous ‘agents’ who meet the migrants at every stage”. According to the 2017 NAPTIP Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 26 survivors are from Cross River State.

Human trafficking happens in every state in Nigeria, and Delta State is among the states with high incidence. National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) ranked Delta state second in human trafficking. Delta State government has continued to battle against persons who are involved in the illegal selling and buying of children. According to the 2017 NAPTIP Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 189 survivors are from Delta State.

Ebonyi state is another state where trafficking of human beings takes place. Between May 2015 and March 2016, 50 children were rescued in the state. There are incidences of selling of children within and outside the state. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 33 survivors are from Ebonyi State.

Edo state is known to have the highest number of victims of trafficking in persons, especially those trafficked to Europe. It is generally believed that Bini girls/women dominate the sex export to Europe through human trafficking. Most of the girls trafficked from Edo state are taken to voodoo priest shrines for oat taking. Some international organizations and foreigners assumed that human trafficking only happens in Edo State. In 2017, Edo State Government established Human Trafficking Task Force to aid in combating human trafficking. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, Edo state has the highest number of rescued victims of trafficking. Out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 353 survivors are from Edo State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Ekiti state is also not an exemption. The zonal coordinator of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIO) stated that no fewer than 20 victims of human trafficking have been rescued in Ekiti state in 2017. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 13 survivors are from Ekiti State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Enugu state is also not an exemption. In 2008, Enugu was thought to be the child trafficking/baby factory headquarters in Nigeria until May of that year when Abia took over. In May 2008, 20 teenage girls were rescued by the police in Enugu. There are incidences where children were forcibly taken away from their teenage mothers and sold. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 79 survivors are from Enugu State.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT)-Abuja is also where trafficking of human beings takes place. Girls, women and children are being trafficked to and out of Abuja. At Abuja international airport, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) intercepted and rescued 14 girls who were about to be trafficked out of Nigeria. There are many hidden human trafficking rings and spots in Abuja where young women are sexually exploited. In 2018, 13 female victims were rescued from a hotel in FCT by NAPTIP officers.

Gombe state is another state where trafficking of human beings takes place. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, no survivors are from Gombe State. However, there are human trafficking incidences reported in Gombe state, but no rescue was recorded.

Imo state is another state where trafficking of human beings takes place. In August, 2018, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Imo state arrested five suspected child traffickers. Within the same year, five children were rescued from their abductors. Child traffickers in Imo state buy and sell children at the rate of 500, 000 to 1, 000, 000 Naira each. Imo state is known for child trafficking through illegal orphanage homes and baby factories. Over 200 illegal orphanage homes have been identified in Imo State. There According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 65 survivors are from Imo State.

Human trafficking exists in Jigawa State. In 2014, Nigerian Immigration Services rescued over 33 female victims along Gidan Boka plantation in Babura local government areas while on their ways to Europe. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 40 survivors are from Jigawa State.

Kaduna state is another state where trafficking of human beings takes place. In August, 2018, Kaduna State Federal Road Safety intercepted a driver and rescued 44 victims (minors). There are reported cases of foreigners buying children from illegal orphanage homes. Young women from Kaduna are also trafficked to Arabian countries for domestic servitude. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 11 survivors are from Kaduna State.

Kano state is another state where trafficking of human beings takes place. Kano is a transit hub for young women, girls, and youth are transported through Sahara desert, Niger border-Libya and across Mediterranean Sea. Thousands of victims of human trafficking and irregular migration have been transported through Sahara desert, but some die on the road due to dehydration and sickness. Many children have exploited through Almajiri (is a system of Islamic education practiced in northern Nigeria). Within two months in 2016, over 50 victims of human trafficking were rescued in Kano State, and 23 human trafficking cases recorded. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 114 survivors are from Kano State.

Katsina state is another state where trafficking of human beings takes place. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) once rescued a 23-year-old girl from human traffickers in Katsina State. In 2018, NIS rescued seven victims of human trafficking whose states of origins are Oyo, Lagos, Bayelsa and Ogu state. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, eight survivors are from Katsina State.

Human trafficking happens in every state in Nigeria, including Kebbi state. Victims, especially children are used as house helps in Kebbi, Sokoto and other states in Nigeria. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, one survivor is from Kebbi State.

Kogi state is another state where trafficking of human beings takes place. Kogi State is a transit state for victims of human trafficking transported from southern Nigeria to Northern Nigeria. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 18 survivors are from Kogi State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Kwara state is also not an exemption. There have been rising cases of child trafficking in Kwara state. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 16 survivors are from Kwara State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Lagos state is also not an exemption. The Lagos State Police command in Lagos rescued three young women and arrested two suspected human traffickers in July 2018 who allegedly lured them from the South-East with job promises in the state. Lagos state is one of the hubs of trafficking for forced prostitution. Young girls from different parts of southern Nigeria are also trafficked to Lagos state for forced prostitution and domestic servitude. There are incidences of child trafficking in the state through illegal orphanage homes. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, nine survivors are from Lagos State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Nasarawa state is also not an exemption. There are many incidences of child trafficking, including buying of children in Nasarawa state. In 2018, police in Nasarawa state arrested three suspects for child theft. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 11 survivors are from Nasarawa State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Niger state is also not an exemption. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, six survivors are from Niger State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Ogun state is also not an exemption. In the past five years, there have been increasing incidences of human trafficking in Ogun state. Some of the survivors have shared experiences of how their organs were removed. No fewer than 29 victims of human trafficking were rescued in Ogun State in 2009, with 10 traffickers arrested by the men of the Nigerian Immigration Service. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 74 survivors are from Ogun State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Ondo state is also not an exemption. In 2016, a notorious ring of traffickers trading on young girls for prostitution were arrested and illicit jobs. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 50 survivors are from Ondo State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Osun state is also not an exemption. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons once reported in 2018, that 103 (78 females and 25 males) victims of human trafficking were rescued, and 59 perpetrators arrested in Osun. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 53 survivors are from Osun State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Oyo state is also not an exemption. The rate of human trafficking is becoming high in Oyo state. In 2015, Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) arrested five people, including a pastor for human trafficking. Also, in 2017, NIS rescued 139 victims from human traffickers. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 94 survivors are from Oyo State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Plateau state is also not an exemption. A female victim with physical challenge was rescued after she was lured out of school and trafficked to Chad. In 2017, security operatives intercept two trucks and rescued 139 children transported from Bauchi and Jigawa to Plateau, Kaduna and Nasarawa states. The children were being transported in trucks ordinarily meant to carry farm produce such as grains, animals and other goods across the states. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, nine survivors are from Plateau State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Rivers state is also not an exemption. According to Julie Okah-Donli, research has shown that Rivers State is one of the endemic states in Nigeria in human trafficking, especially because of its coastal nature and the presence of many oil servicing companies and their expatriate employees. On September 28, 2018, Police in River state arrested 15 child traffickers for the use of illegal orphanage homes and baby factory for child trafficking. However, according to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 14 survivors are from Rivers State.

Sokoto state is another state where trafficking of human beings takes place. Over 150 human trafficking cases have been reported to law enforcement agencies as of 2017. Sokoto is another state where human trafficking victims are transited to Niger republic. Over 100 victims of human trafficking have been rescued by National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in 2017. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 31 survivors are from Sokoto State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Taraba state is also not an exemption. There are incidences of children trafficked within and outside the state. In 2018, Police in Taraba state arrested three suspects kidnapping and killing a six year old girl for money rituals. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, two survivors are from Taraba State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Yobe state is also not an exemption. About 15 children were rescued by men of the Nigerian army from four child traffickers in Yobe state on June 2017. Also, four suspected human traffickers have been arrested by troops of the Nigerian Army in Potiskum, Yobe State for conveying 19 underage children to an undisclosed location. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, 55 survivors are from Yobe State.

Human trafficking exists in every state in Nigeria, and Zamfara state is also not an exemption. In 2017, about 20 girls were rescued from Zamfara in collaboration with Kebbi and Niger State Governments from some human traffickers. National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) nabbed a 45-year-old woman with 35 children in Zamfara State. According to the NAPTIP 2017 Analysis Report, out of 1799 survivors rescued under the year of review, two survivors are from Zamfara State.