IFELODUN Human traffickers’ new fishing pond

 

Human traffickers to Libya and other countries abroad are feasting on the desperation of poor, ambitious residents of Ifelodun Street, Ayobo, Lagos, report Medinat Kanabe and Dorcas Egede

Ifelodun Street, Ayobo, has become a rich fishing pond for girl traffickers to Libya and many other cities. In this suburb of Lagos, ambitious mothers put in extra efforts to prepare their daughters for the journey abroad, while the ‘lucky’ girls show off to other girls when they get opportunity to be trafficked abroad.

Sarah (not real name) lived with her parents at Ifelodun Street, Onimalu, Ayobo, Lagos state before she got what her relations believed was a rare opportunity. She and other girls her age, who lived close to each other, had, in the past, competed for things girls her age compete for. She loved to have what other girls had as well as show her parents that she can make them proud. So, it was not a surprise that she was interested when Auntie Helen (not real name) came to their neighborhood with a ‘sweet’ offer to take girls who are good in one form of handiwork or the other abroad for jobs. Her parents supported her in making all the necessary arrangements, including making sure she perfected her hair making skills to ensure she was picked quickly.

Sarah and some others, including Biliki (surname withheld), were soon taken abroad but the happiness of her parents and relations was cut short when in September 2016, Sarah’s corpse suddenly arrived Nigeria for burial.

Until today, the cause of her death remains unknown to her parent’s neighbours, many of who refused to discuss it openly.

Search for Sarah’s roots in Ifelodun

The Nation reporters paid a visit to Ifelodun in an attempt to trace Sarah’s roots. The road from Magida bus stop is tarred until one gets to the turning that leads to the road that houses Ifelodun Street.

On the street are houses and shops, especially hairdressing and barbing shops. The community looked open, ordinary and even free until The Nation reporters began to ask about a lady who died abroad and was brought to Nigeria for burial. Initially, the response was very discouraging until they sighted a curious poster that supports the claim that girl trafficking may be enjoying a boom in that community.

On the wall of one of the houses on the street is written “FM travel and tour agent. Free resident visa to work abroad. 100 % sure; contact: 07033030114.” Although nobody commented on the poster until we reached out to the author, through the telephone number he provided, its audacious presence served as the first proof that we may not have made a mistake.

We however began with our attempt to locate late Sarah’s home. Unfortunately, virtually everybody asked in the first few hours of our visit in the community – okada riders, traders, pedestrians, etc, denied knowing the family; it was as though someone had threatened the entire community and so the people were scared of saying anything.

However, after a few hours of fruitless search, a young lady owned up that she knew about the girl that died abroad and was brought home last year for burial. She acknowledged that the girl lived on the street but was not sure of the particular house. But she pointed at a house and directed the reporters to make enquiries there, since, according to her, “the girl child in that house has gone abroad and her mother is a friend to the mothers of other girls who have gone abroad through Auntie Helen.”

At the house we met a man and a woman who refused to answer our questions. Instead, the woman started shouting and called her son to throw us out. The boy denied having any sister abroad, adding that his family does not know anyone abroad either.

So, the reporters left the house and decided to engage the services of a hairdresser. Excited to make her first sales that day, after the long monthly meeting, the hairdresser welcomed the two reporters warmly.

When asked about the girl who died abroad, the hairdresser denied knowing much about her but pointed at another shop where the reporters can go and find out. She said the woman who owns the shop has a daughter (Biliki) abroad.

A visit to Mama Biliki

Mama Biliki who also denied knowing the late Sarah agreed that her daughter is abroad but she doesn’t know the particular country where she resides.

According to her, Biliki was taken abroad because she is a very good hairdresser. She left a child of about 5 years who does not go to school or move around because he is suffering from Down syndrome.

The shop looks poorly kept, unpainted and almost empty of commodities. A lady sat with Mama Biliki and was translating what the reporters were saying.

Mama Biliki who responded to these reporters because one of the reporters said the late Sarah’s mother is a friend to the reporter’s mother and that her mother is not in good health but sent the reporter to give her sympathy, told them that Biliki is a good hairdresser that was why she made it.

After becoming acquainted with Mama Biliki and discussing other issues for more than 20 minutes, the reporter then begged Auntie Biliki to help with the contact of Madam Helen, as according to the reporter, she is also interested in traveling to work abroad.

Mama Biliki who said she does not have the number however gave them Biliki’s international number.

A call to Biliki

When these reporters called Biliki’s number, truecaller showed that the line belonged to one, Queen Band, and that the location was Libya. The reporter pleaded with Biliki (Queen Band) to be assisted to come over to work in Libya. Biliki, who sounded really nice, agreed after asking a lot of questions, including: “Who are you, who gave you my number, can you make hair, or do house girl work, or you go learn?”

The reporter said she could make ladies hair very well and the next question was if the reporter has money to pay. “If you don’t have money, I can help you but when you come, you will pay me o.”

Told that we did not have money, Biliki immediately promised to help but gave a condition that the caller must look for two more girls who are interested and call back for instructions on what to do.”

A call to Femi

As part of these reporters efforts to unravel the operation of the girl trafficking business in this community, they called the number on the wall of the house, “FM travel and tour agent. One Femi picked the call and said there are vacancies right now in the United Arab Emirate alone. He said the candidate must have a handiwork before she can be taken abroad and explained that she must have an international passport which he can arrange for.

He also said there are free accommodation and jobs for people that travel through him anywhere in the world, as he added that if a candidate doesn’t have money to pay for her transportation, he can help but she will be attached to someone over there who will be deducting from her salary and pay him until his money is complete.

Femi however emphasized that before any of these processes can begin, the candidate must first pay N15, 000 for a form and visit his office for more information.

A national threat

It is on record that many target communities, like Ifelodun, exist in different parts of the country. In such communities, girl traffickers have perfected means of persuading parents and enticing both unsuspecting and over ambitious young girls into the booming but deadly business. One of the most widely reported areas where this happen regularly is Edo State.

Ochua’s story

While The Nation was investigating the Ifelodun trafficking racket, we got information about the unfortunate story of a young girl from Edo State, who, like Sarah, recently lost her life after she was taken abroad. To protect her identity, we can call her Ochua here.

A source who knows the man that assisted Ochua to France told The Nation how the young girl lost her life in far away France: “You know how these Edo people give their children out for prostitution and domestic service. That was how they paid one Aigberamah (Other name withheld) from Iviukwe, Edo State to take their daughter to France. Aigberamah claims to be able to take people to different parts of the world.

“He was in the village in December 2015 and March 2016, so I saw him the last time he was in Nigeria. On their way, the girl was impregnated by one of the emigrants. When she arrived France, the woman they sent her to tried to abort the pregnancy and she died.

“I got to know this through a boy who comes to my office. The boy has been looking for a job in Lagos to no avail. So, he went to discuss with his brother who took him to Aigberamah when he was in Nigeria. He told them they will pay N400, 000 for the boy to be taken to Europe to work but unfortunately, he called them and told them that the first batch of boys he took to Libya were arrested and imprisoned in Libya, so, he would stop there to release them.

“The boy became scared and decided to stay back. He came to tell me how God saved him from imprisonment. But Aigberamah went to Libya and bailed the boys and decided to stop over in France to see his new wife who he married in absentia in Benin. But he was arrested in France in connection with the death of the girl, Ochua. He will serve two years in prison.

The Nation’s investigation showed that more Nigerian ladies seem resolved to embark on this deadly journey notwithstanding the tragic reports on the way some of the victims lose their lives. This, according to a source has so much to do with the harsh economic realities in the country.

According to the US Department of State 2016 Trafficking in persons report, Nigeria is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking.

It says “Nigerian trafficking victims are recruited from rural and, to a lesser extent, urban areas: women and girls for domestic servitude and sex trafficking and boys for forced labour in street vending, domestic service, mining, stone quarrying, agriculture, textile manufacturing, and begging.”

The report also stated that Nigerian women and children are taken to other West and Central African countries, as well as to South Africa, where they are exploited for the same purposes. “Nigerian women and girls are subjected to sex trafficking throughout Europe. Nigerian women and children are also recruited and transported to destinations in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, where they are held captive in the commercial sex industry or forced labour. Women from other countries in West Africa transit Nigeria to destinations in Europe and the Middle East, where they are subjected to forced prostitution. Children from other West African countries are subjected to forced labour in Nigeria, including in granite and gold mines. Nigeria is a transit point for children from other countries in West Africa, who are then subjected to forced labor in Cameroon and Gabon.”

Scoring the Nigerian government on its effort to end trafficking, the report stated that the Government of Nigeria does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. “During the reporting period, the government sustained strong anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts by investigating, prosecuting, and convicting numerous traffickers; by collaborating with 11 countries on international investigations; and by providing extensive specialised anti-trafficking training to officials from various government ministries and agencies.

“The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) received a larger operating budget, identified and provided services to a large number of victims, and continued extensive awareness campaigns throughout the country,” it said.

It recommended cease of provision and in-kind support to groups recruiting and using children; investigation and prosecution of all individuals suspected of recruiting and using child soldiers and allegedly perpetrating other trafficking abuses against women and children, amongst others.

On prosecution, the report said the Nigerian government maintained strong anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts. “In 2015, the government passed amendments to the 2003 Trafficking in Persons Law Enforcement and Administration Act, which increased the penalties for trafficking offenders. The law prohibits all forms of trafficking and prescribes a minimum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a minimum fine of one million naira ($5,470) for sex and labor trafficking offenses; the minimum penalty for sex trafficking increases to seven years’ imprisonment if the case involves a child,” adding that “these penalties are sufficiently stringent and commensurate with other serious crimes, such as rape.”

It also reported that “NAPTIP conducted 507 trafficking investigations, completed at least 32 prosecutions, and secured 24 convictions during the reporting period, compared with 509 investigations, 56 prosecutions, and 30 convictions in the previous reporting period,” pointing out that “The decrease in convictions is likely a result of the seconding of many judges to electoral tribunals during the reporting period. An additional 148 prosecutions remained pending at the end of the reporting period. All prosecutions occurred under the anti-trafficking law, and prison sentences upon conviction ranged from three months’ to 14 months.