Fake Job Promises Push Nigerian Women Into Sex Trafficking Network

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Lagos: Thousands of Nigerian women are being lured abroad with false promises of legitimate jobs before being forced into prostitution, as traffickers exploit poverty, fake debts and fear of traditional "juju" oaths to keep victims trapped, according to anti-trafficking groups and survivors.

Many victims are promised work in countries such as Mali, Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire, only to discover they have been sold into brothels. Once there, they are told they owe large debts to traffickers and are subjected to abuse, intimidation and exploitation.

Traffickers often use ‘JuJu’ rituals, in which victims are made to swear traditional oaths, to frighten them into silence by making them believe they or their families will be harmed if they escape or report the crime. Experts say the practice remains a powerful method of psychological control despite growing efforts to combat it.

The United Nations says women and girls make up the vast majority of trafficking victims in Nigeria, with poverty, unemployment and the promise of a better life making many vulnerable to criminal networks. Aid organisations have helped thousands of victims return home, but convictions remain relatively rare and many survivors face stigma when they return to their communities.

Pic: Representative Image