Four Nigerian Girls Rescued From Mali, Burkina Faso as Madaki Demands Tougher Anti-Trafficking Law
By Naomi Onome
An anti-human trafficking advocate, Mrs. Jumai Madaki, has called for an urgent review of Nigeria’s anti-trafficking law, describing it as too lenient to deter offenders, following the rescue of four Nigerian girls trafficked to Mali and Burkina Faso under false promises of employment.
The victims, Blessing Dallani and Anko Damaris from Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Sylvia from Enugu State, and Hannah from Benue State, were lured with promises of decent jobs but allegedly forced into prostitution and harsh living conditions.
Their rescue was facilitated by the founder of the Global Anti Human Trafficking Organization(GAHTO), Prosper Kayode Michael, following an alert from a Plateau-based anti-trafficking advocate and GAHTO partner.
Speaking on the recurring cases, Madaki said rehabilitation and awareness campaigns were insufficient without stronger laws and effective prosecution.
“A law that you are not scared of is no law. The law that does not scare you is no law,” she said, calling for a review of the existing legislation.
She lamented that many victims were unaware of the realities of prostitution abroad, even when they knew the nature of the work they were accepting.
“I feel very bad. I mean, I’m happy that they’re back, but you can see some level of ignorance,” she said.
Madaki added that Plateau State was experiencing widespread trafficking, with families being dismantled as children and young people left home in search of employment.
Victims Narrate Their Ordeals
Damaris said she and Blessing were introduced to a supposed company job in Mali through a friend, Chris, who was told they would sell food to workers.
They travelled from Jos to Abuja, then Lagos, Cotonou in Benin Republic, Togo and Burkina Faso before being taken across the Mali border and eventually to Bamako and other locations.
Upon arrival, they were welcomed, fed and allowed to rest. However, at about 4pm, their madam allegedly disclosed that they had been brought for prostitution, questioning why they had not been informed earlier.
Sylvia, from Enugu State, said a man approached her at Oniru Beach, Lagos, promising a hairdressing job in Malaysia with a monthly salary of N100,000.
Instead, she was taken to Mali, where she discovered she had been recruited for prostitution.
She alleged that traffickers subjected victims to oath-taking rituals involving blood, hair and other personal items to prevent them from escaping.
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Sylvia said she spent eight months in Mali and was required to pay 1.5 million CFA francs. She managed to pay between 800,000 and 900,000 CFA francs, while her earnings were reduced by deductions for accommodation and feeding.
Hannah, who returned from Burkina Faso, attributed her search for employment to poverty and appealed for government empowerment programmes.
“I want to go to school. I don’t have money to sponsor myself. That is why I was looking for a job,” she said, expressing gratitude for her return to Nigeria.
Madaki Raises Alarm Over Missing Children
Madaki also disclosed that more than 80 children from her community remained missing after a woman allegedly took them away under the guise of being a missionary.
She said some children had been recovered, but their names were reportedly changed to Igbo names, raising concerns about possible illegal adoption.
According to her, parents believed they were releasing their children to caregivers and did not realise the implications of the arrangements.
Madaki further alleged that the existing law makes prosecution difficult because traffickers cannot be taken to court until the survivor is available, a requirement she said complicates efforts to secure convictions.
She called on the government to strengthen enforcement and punish traffickers, including family members who collaborate in recruiting victims.
GAHTO Seeks Support for More Rescues
Global Anti Human Trafficking Organization(GAHTO) founder, Prosper Kayode Michael, described the rate of human trafficking involving Nigerians as alarming.
He said the organisation was working towards becoming financially stronger to rescue Nigerians, particularly those stranded in Libya, with support from philanthropists and government.
“Thousands of our people are crying for rescue every day. We must be there for them and give them hope for a better future,” Michael said.
He stressed that no Nigerian should be trafficked for sexual or labour exploitation.
Read Also:GAHTO Leads Rescue of Three Nigerian Women from Mali Sex Traffickers as Survivors Reveal Shocking Abuse
The rescued girls appealed to the Plateau, Enugu and Federal Governments, as well as well-meaning Nigerians, for educational and economic empowerment to help them rebuild their lives.
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