It was shocking when the survivors of human trafficking spoke   on their ordeal, cataloguing their tales of woe while being hold as slaves in their fatherland.  What shocked many people was the disclosure made by the  National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic In Persons  that many Nigerian victims have either lost their lives or sensitive organs to their masters abroad.

Rescued kidnap victims Some victims, who are now survivors of human trafficking shared their experiences during   skills acquisition  programmes jointly organised  by Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), Abuja chapter and Stephanie Peace Building and Development Foundation (SPADEV) held at Igan-Okoto in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It was an assemblage of the survivors of human trafficking and   according to the   findings, many of the victims of human trafficking   did not survive   the experience, especially those taken abroad, while those who survived it,   needed serious rehabilitation . In a bid to rehabilitate the survivors, the PRAWA Abuja chapter and     SPADEV   as well as National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic In Persons organised an empowerment programme for them. Narrating the ordeal of   some of the victims, the Coordinator of NAPTIP  Lagos chapter, Olufunke Kolawole   raised alarm that many Nigerian victims of human trafficking forcefully  lose some of   their   important organs including   kidneys and hearts to human trafficking rings  abroad. Kolawole added that child trafficking is a new form of the long outlawed slavery in Nigeria.

She said some young Nigerian girls were being forcefully taken to foreign countries and   made  to work as sex slaves for their masters. According to her, I worked in counseling and rehabilitation centre for eight years and some child trafficking survivors come back with infections like HIV, AIDS, STD. Another way those involved in child trafficking business get their money is that they remove the kidney or heart of the child and sell to those who need it. “Some even came with unwanted pregnancies and through that, they are exposed to shame, rejection among others.There was a girl who was taken to Spain with one other person for child trafficking but she was the only one who survived because the other person died along the way. While sharing their ordeals in the hands of their masters and mistresses both in Nigeria and abroad, some of the survivors who spoke with Vanguard lamented that life was meaningless to them as they were treated like animals .

According to Keji Fashina, “when I was used for child trafficking, I was taken to my aunt, we would be given food at times but most times, we don’t eat. “We were severely beaten. She did not allow me to either go to school or learn trade or vocation. During last year’s Christmas, I was the only person she refused to buy Christmas clothes for and she didn’t tell me her reason for doing that which hurts me. Also sharing her experience, Idowu Adeleke said , “I was a victim of child trafficking in Nigeria . My parents are dead and I was living with my daddy’s elder sister who   maltreated me a lot.   Whenever she had a misunderstanding with her husband, he will curse and insult my grandma. At times, I go to school late without food. Another   survivor, Risi Idowu,who was impregnated in the cause of the trafficking  said, “I was once a victim of child trafficking. I was taken to my grandma’s place with the hope that I was going to learn a trade but when I got there, I was hawking for her. “I was beaten mercilessly on several occasions and at times, I will be told not to return until I sell all the   goods I was hawking. There is so much suffering in child trafficking and that is why I will never allow my child to be used for child trafficking.” She however, lauded the empowerment programme organised for them , saying,   she has   hope that,   “this empowerment can be of help to us because if we are given a small amount of money as capital to start a business of our choice, we will be able to sponsor our children in their education and also take care of them properly. “If we do not have money to take care of them and make them get educated, they might become slaves for their mates and they will be unable to take care of us when we get old .

But,   with   this, they will become slaves to no one, have   minds   of their own and enjoy freedom.” Abiona Muinat,   said this empowerment programme   is a form of encouragement for both parents and children in this village. Also, Risikat Lawal in her remarks,   said she is a survivor of human trafficking and had so many tales of woe   before she was freed. She said though, she had it in Nigeria, “due to my bad experiences, I don’t want any of my children to be used for child trafficking that is why I need those NGOs,PRAWA and NAPTIP to assist me with a small amount of money to start a business so as to train up my children with it. “When I was a victim , my mistress would ask me to go to the river when I return from school without eating anything and   after that   I will hawk till night before I return home.

There were so many injuries I sustained due to the child trafficking. At times, I would be beaten and dragged on the floor like an animal. “Ever since then, I have been advising parents not to allow their children to be used for child trafficking because of my bad experience.” Explaining how the survivors were rescued and the rationale behind their empowerment for them,   the coordinator of Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), Abuja chapter, Mr Jasper Ukachukwu lauded stakeholders in the country for their efforts.

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