One of the major problems in Nigeria is human trafficking. A lot of people fall victim because traffickers use force, deception, coercion and other gimmicks to get people into their trap.
It is estimated that 60 to 80 per cent of sex workers in Italy are from Nigeria. Why is this so? Some women who went to Italy due to poverty and illiteracy level are turned into sex slaves.
The causes of human trafficking in Nigeria include poverty, lack of education, immigration policy, environmental conditions, family responsibilities and lack of good job opportunities. There is no doubt that these conditions create a toxic cocktail of vulnerability.
Human traffickers, using whatever power at their disposal make profits by compelling people to do work they do not want to do like prostitution.
With diverse issues confronting Nigeria, even people that are not trying to flee the country can become victims of human trafficking if they stay in troubled areas.
Complete disregard for human rights is also a cause for human trafficking. Women and children are often viewed as objects that can be sold. Thus, they are sold into slavery for sexual exploitation. People are often unsatisfied with what they have even if they have comfortable lives; they try to go out in search of a better life and sometimes get into trouble out of desperation.
Despite the fact that Nigeria has one of the biggest and fastest growing economies, many of its citizens cannot get jobs, therefore, they try to seek for greener pastures which leads them to encounter fraudsters that might lure them into a terrible fate on the pretext of employment abroad and a better life.
Furthermore, gender inequality is common in Nigeria, many people believe that it is a waste of time and resources to educate the girl child and uneducated girls are preys to all forms of crimes. Every community needs to learn about human trafficking, those who are vulnerable are members of our communities and we should all see it as a serious problem.
The government has to pay more attention to this issue by creating employment opportunities and skill acquisition. Also, there is need for more awareness and sensitisation to curb this menace.
Yusuf Faizat Toluwalase,
Ogun state.
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