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The London School of Economics conducted a study on the operation of human trafficking networks in Nigeria to investigate why many Nigerians who wish to migrate resort to dealing with traffickers, despite the high risk of being exploited and forced to work in harsh conditions. The study concluded by providing basic information and answering pressing questions about the relationship between the desire to migrate and the acceptance of dealing with human trafficking networks.
New data from Edo State, Nigeria, suggests that a significant proportion of the population is putting themselves at risk with human traffickers in order to migrate. Many appear to have a complex understanding of the risks of exploitation after accepting a deal that involves migration in exchange for work. Despite the potential risks, would-be migrants turn to human traffickers as a necessary means to better opportunities abroad.
unclear concept
When we talk about human trafficking, we often think of dramatic scenes of kidnapping. However, this image is largely inaccurate. A common misconception about human trafficking is that there is acceptance between the smuggler and the would-be migrant.
According to the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol, traffickers smuggle people into the country in order to subject them to their control and exploitation. They may initially agree to these arrangements, only to find out later that they have been deceived and forced to work in harsh conditions.
Why would anyone choose to be trafficked voluntarily?
This question requires us to look closely at the harsh reality faced by potential migrants from poor countries. In Nigeria, legal routes to the UK, EU or US are neither available nor affordable. Faced with limited options, many turn to human traffickers who offer a tempting deal: migrate to their chosen country in exchange for work upon arrival.
The proposal, while fraught with potential exploitation, offers a glimmer of hope for financially strapped potential migrants. The arrangement is particularly attractive to younger people in West African families, where tradition often involves investing the family’s hopes and resources in the eldest son. Younger daughters and sons, who aspire to make their own way but lack the means, may see migration as the only viable option.
The Challenge of Combating Human Trafficking in Nigeria
The conditions that foster trafficking are believed to be rooted in social norms of migration, experiences of relative deprivation, and the increasing challenges associated with legal entry into Europe. However, it remains unclear why these root causes have led to a culture of trafficking in southern Nigeria and not elsewhere. In studies conducted between 1991 and 2001, 94% of migrant women trafficked to Europe for sexual exploitation were from southern states in Nigeria.
Nigerian government efforts
According to the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, the Nigerian government investigated 1,242 trafficking cases, including 511 sex trafficking cases. It convicted 97 individuals, 50 of whom were convicted of human trafficking. Despite these efforts, challenges remain, ranging from inadequate training of judges and lack of knowledge of the law to corruption. Government authorities tasked with combating human trafficking also lack sufficient resources to conduct proactive anti-trafficking operations and often fail to secure convictions.
Data from Edo State
New data from a field survey in Edo State, Nigeria, as part of the Transmit 2023 project, reveals how vulnerable people are to trafficking. The data showed that 24% of respondents knew someone who had been trafficked or worked in prostitution abroad to support their family. Willingness also appears to be high, with a quarter of respondents saying they would migrate with traffickers, putting them at risk of “debt bondage” and forced labour.
These data suggest that awareness of the risks does not deter individuals from seeing human trafficking as a necessary means to achieve better opportunities abroad. This contradiction highlights the limitations of current awareness campaigns and underscores the need for comprehensive strategies that address the root causes of human trafficking across Africa.
