Human Trafficking In Nigeria: Much Ado About Nothing?
Introduction
Human Trafficking is prevalent in our polity, albeit with less publicity. It is estimated that over 10 million of the Nigerians who leave Nigeria often go in search of greener pastures because it is believed that the country has little or nothing to offer them, particularly the younger -generation. Of note, a larger number of these emigrants are being used as sex objects, ill treated and objectified. Regrettably, casualties are most often than not misled in the guise that they will gain connection to make money legitimately only to end up being coerced to do things that are illegal, such as commercial sex activities, dealing in drugs, cheap labour, sale of ammunitions, tools for fanning flames of terrorism, amongst others. Women, children and young girls from third world countries are the most prevalent casualties of human trafficking.
Meaning of human trafficking
Human trafficking can be associated with slavery. It is not farfetched from the old type of slavery during the colonial era. It means, trading of women or children (Humans) for the purpose of commercial sex or labour. Human trafficking can be within a country and can be transnational. It is most times against the will of the victims as some of them are usually threatened or subjected to unlawful force. Humans, especially women and children are majorly used for prostitution in other countries outside theirs, which is the most common form of trafficking.
Causes of Human Trafficking in Nigeria
The rate of unemployment in Nigeria is very high thereby causing Nigerians to look for several means of surviving the harsh economic situation of the country. The major cause of human trafficking in Nigeria can be linked to poverty. Poverty is a major problem in Nigeria and a cause of different unlawful acts in the country. Many people do not mind to do any kind of thing in order to escape living in abject poverty; poverty may cause people to seek greener pastures in other countries. It is rather unfortunate that women/young girls go into prostitution to fend for themselves as well as their families. Some in particular crave of their own volition to leave the country to engage in commercial sex in climes where same is legalized because they believe that they would make more money outside the country as prostitutes.
It is so unfortunate that some greedy parents are also one of the causes of trafficking in Nigeria. They are usually deceived into giving their children to strangers who promise to help take their wards out of the country. Some greedy illiterate parents would then jump at the offer without thinking twice. Also, parents living in the village are often deceived into believing that their children would go to school in big cities in Nigeria such as Lagos whereas, they are being used for prostitution in those big cities.
Human Trafficking and abuses
Are these girls subjected to any form of abuse? As earlier discussed, trafficking can be likened to slavery or slave trade. The women/young girls are being owned by some persons like a property that can be used in any way the owner wants. They can be raped, sold as commodities, beaten, battered, starved of food as well as shelter or even killed without trace.
The Law, Human trafficking and abuses:
Section 13 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, prohibits all acts of Human Trafficking in Nigeria. Section 24 of the Act specifically states the punishments for trafficking any persons as slaves. The Act provides punishment for Traffickers such as imprisonment and half of the punishment for anyone who attempts to commit an offence under the Act-Section 29. The Act provides 7 years imprisonment for slave trading, 7 years for foreign prostitution or exploitation, 5 years for deception into prostitution among others.
The law in Nigeria provides that everyone has the right to dignity of human persons and does not deserve any inhumane treatment as enshrined in section 34 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Human trafficking can be said to be an example of an inhumane treatment and a breach of the fundamental right to dignity of human persons.
Section 31& 32 of the Child’s Right Act, 2003 forbids a child from being forced to participate in any form of sexual activities.
U.S. federal legislation, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) protects women against all forms of violent abuses, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. Therefore, where a person is being abused by a US citizen in the United States, she can make a petition to the US Government to protect her against her abuser under the Violence Against Women Act. (Note however, that the VAWA also protects men).
The Role of the Government of Nigeria in Trafficking in Persons:
In order to curb the cases of Human trafficking in Nigeria, the Government of Nigeria established in the year 2003 the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) under Section 2 & 3 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act. The agency is saddled with the role of investigating and prosecuting Human trafficking offenders — Section 5 of the Act, protects victims of human trafficking and use every means to ensure that Human Trafficking in Nigeria is being prohibited.
The court that had jurisdiction over cases of Human trafficking in Nigeria is the High Court. — Section 36 of the Act and Section 272 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The Federal Government of Nigeria also use other bodies, such as the Nigeria Police Force, immigration officers amongst others to arrest and bring to book these offenders.
Conclusion
As it still stands, human needs are insatiable. Also, Nigeria’s economy is very poor thereby leaving people with no choice than to look for illegitimate means to cater for their needs; however, it needs to be added- ‘crime does not pay’. Human trafficking may not be popularly talked about in Nigeria, but it is still happening. We can’t just fold our arms and see the lives of young Nigerian girls and women being destroyed all in the name of searching for greener pastures.
It is therefore highly recommended that the Government of Nigeria and NATIP brace up and fight against this evil act.
Awareness must be created especially in the rural areas that Human Trafficking is evil and must be stopped.
The Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act must be adopted and implemented by all the states of the Federation. NATIP should have offices in all the states of the Federation as against having offices in only Lagos, Abuja and few other states.
We cannot over emphasize the need to reduce the rate of poverty in this country through job creation and also for government at all levels to create poverty alleviation programs to check this growing menace. A stitch in time saves nine!
