Four Nigerian girls, including a 14-year-old minor, have been rescued from an alleged human trafficking network in Morila, Mali, after they were reportedly lured abroad with fake employment offers and forced into prostitution.
The victims, who are all from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, were rescued through a joint intervention involving the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
The founder of GAHTO, Prosper Michael, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, explaining that the girls were initially promised jobs in gold mining and shops before being subjected to sexual exploitation.
According to him, their rescue was made possible after one of the victims sent a distress message through WhatsApp, using artificial intelligence to obtain contacts of people who could help them.
One of the rescued victims, 23-year-old Sekinat, an auxiliary nurse, said she travelled to Mali after her mother’s friend offered her what she believed was a legitimate job.
She explained that she departed Nigeria on October 14 and arrived in Mali on October 19, only to have her phone and identification documents confiscated upon arrival.
Sekinat said the woman who facilitated their journey subsequently informed them that they were expected to engage in prostitution.
“I thought it was a joke,” she said, recounting her reaction when she was told about the nature of the work.
She further alleged that the trafficker threatened to sell or kill any of the girls who refused to comply.
According to her, the woman collected CFA2.5m to arrange their journey but instructed them to tell embassy officials that the transportation cost was CFA1.5m.
Sekinat said the victims eventually gained access to a concealed phone and sought assistance after their initial attempt to contact a Nigerian Army officer failed.
She explained that they used artificial intelligence through WhatsApp to locate someone who could intervene, subsequently sending photographs, the alleged trafficker’s phone number and details of their location.
Recounting the distress message, the Head of Operations at NAPTIP’s Uyo Command, Geoffrey, said the victim pleaded for urgent intervention.
“I am a Nigerian girl, trapped in Mali. My madam seized my passport and asked me to go and be doing hook-up. Please, our life is in danger,” the message reportedly read.
Geoffrey said he received the alert and contacted Michael, who subsequently coordinated with a Nigerian community leader in Mali to facilitate the girls’ rescue and return.
He expressed concern that a 14-year-old girl was among the victims, describing her involvement in the trafficking incident as a clear case of child abuse.
“How can he send a child of 14 years? Irrespective of the work she wants to go and do there, it is abuse. It is child abuse,” he said, referring to the minor’s father, who reportedly approved her trip.
Michael described the situation as disturbing, noting that Nigerians trapped in trafficking networks abroad continued to require urgent assistance.
“Our people are crying for rescue every day and we must be there for them,” he said.
The rescue team appealed to the Kogi State Government and the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to support the survivors with medical treatment, psychological counselling and educational assistance.
They also called for a thorough investigation into the alleged trafficking operation and the prosecution of those involved.
The four survivors are currently receiving care and undergoing rehabilitation.
