‘Malian girls being trafficked to Edo for prostitution’ — NAPTIP raises alarm

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says girls from Mali are being trafficked to Edo state for prostitution.

Nduka Nwawenene, NAPTIP commander in Benin, spoke on Sunday during a road walk to mark the 2023 World Day against Trafficking in Persons.

Nwawenene said the agency received reports about the situation, adding that the case is currently under investigation.

“We gathered intelligence reports that victims are now being trafficked from Mali into Benin for prostitution and we are investigating,” NAN quoted Nwawenene as saying.

“Before now, more than 20,000 Nigerian girls were stranded in Mali.

“Mali used to be one of the destinations for trafficked Nigerian girls. Now the reverse is the case as Malian girls are being trafficked into Nigeria.

“Before now, we heard stories about Malian men ready to do anything to meet with Nigerian girls.

“Victims have confessed that they make more money in Mali and that Malian men would spend everything they had to get cosy with Nigerian girls.

“But now the reverse is the case; their girls are the ones coming to Benin and we are investigating.”

The NAPTIP commander added that more collaboration is needed to eradicate trafficking, especially as it concerns persons with disabilities (PWDs).

“We do not have the statistics of hearing-impaired persons already trafficked, but their group claims that some of them had been trafficked and that they were used for domestic jobs and other exploitation,” he said.

“Now that we have brought them into our fold, we will collect their statistics to enable NAPTIP to rescue and to rehabilitate them.”