Nigerians in Ivory Coast seek help

The chairman of the Nigerian community in Ivory Coast, Chief Onwuchelu Emeka, on Saturday gave a hint to the Nigerian government about the increasing human trafficking on the route between Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

Emeka made the revelation about NTA’s international programme on human trafficking being monitored in Kano, saying: “Nigerian girls are being trafficked especially to Ivory Coast for what he calls sexual exploitation.

“Young Nigerian girls, between the ages of 11 and 18, are being transported on a large scale from Nigeria to Ivory Coast by human traffickers, under the pretext of providing them with non-existent lucrative jobs.

“When these girls arrive in Ivory Coast, the traffickers deliberately deny them access to communications and information by taking away their mobile phones.

“In this situation, they are exposed to different forms of abuse and lack the means to ask anyone outside their enclave for help,” he said.

According to Emeka, the situation is dire and urgent intervention by the Nigerian government is needed. He believes the government has the capacity and resources to address the worrying threat through intergovernmental diplomatic channels.

He deplored that the number of girls being trafficked from Nigeria to Ivory Coast is increasing day by day, many of whom have died without knowing how to contact their parents.

He advised parents never to give up their children to anyone or group of people whose identity cannot be verified, and who promise their children a good life beyond the borders of Nigeria.

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