By Capital Watch Media
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, recently revealed troubling statistics in its 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, highlighting a 25% increase in human trafficking victims globally between 2019 and 2022.
The report, which analysed data from 156 countries, showed a 47% rise in victims trafficked for forced labour during the period, while child victims increased by 31%.
Female victims, especially girls, made up a significant portion, with 61% of overall victims in 2022.
UNODC Executive Director, Ghada Waly, called for stricter justice measures to prosecute traffickers, stronger international cooperation to rescue victims, and enhanced support systems for survivors.
The report has intensified discussions in Nigeria, where human trafficking remains a persistent challenge.
Migration expert Osita Osemene described the findings as a reflection of Nigeria’s struggles with child trafficking, forced labour, and sexual exploitation.
“Parents must be more aware of the dangers,” Osemene stressed, adding that many parents knowingly allow their children to embark on risky journeys, unaware of the grim realities awaiting them.
The dangers associated with human trafficking were highlighted in 2024 when 10 Nigerian teenage girls, aged 15 to 18, were trafficked to Ghana and forced into prostitution.
Such cases illustrate the deceptive tactics traffickers employ.
Migration expert Solomon Onavi linked the surge in trafficking to greed and economic hardship.
“Many young girls are lured by the promise of quick wealth,” he said, noting that some victims willingly pursue dangerous opportunities abroad.
Community leader Chidiebere Adum blamed moral decay and weak governance for Nigeria’s trafficking crisis.
“Corruption among security agencies allows traffickers to operate freely,” he remarked.
Adum also emphasised the role of social media in facilitating trafficking, as victims are often misled by online advertisements promising better lives overseas.
Efforts by organisations like the International Organisation for Migration, IOM, and local civil society groups have raised awareness, but stakeholders agree that more needs to be done.
Osemene called for increased partnerships between governments and law enforcement agencies across borders to dismantle trafficking networks and prosecute offenders.
“The government must prioritise value reorientation in families,” he added, urging parents to instil discipline and educate their children about the risks.
Onavi highlighted the need for proactive community interventions, including campaigns in schools to reach vulnerable youths.
“Many girls are trafficked before they even turn 18,” he observed.
Traffickers have expanded their networks beyond Europe and America to the Middle East, Asia, and other African nations, adopting new strategies to evade detection.
Experts warn that traffickers often exploit porous borders and weak enforcement, allowing victims to be smuggled out of Nigeria with ease.
As the fight against trafficking continues, stakeholders stress the need for collaboration, accountability, and comprehensive education to curb the alarming trend.
