17, 18-Year-Old Nigerians Among Survivors Rescued From Côte d’Ivoire Trafficking Scheme
Two Nigerian teenagers, aged 17 and 18, are among survivors rescued from a suspected human trafficking network in Côte d’Ivoire after fake job offers allegedly placed them in situations of exploitation and abuse.
The teenagers were reportedly lured with promises of employment opportunities before being taken to the neighbouring West African country, where they discovered that the jobs they were promised did not exist. Instead, they were allegedly forced into commercial sex work by traffickers who exploited their desire for better opportunities.
The 17-year-old survivor said she believed she had secured a bakery job in Abuja before she was transported through Lagos to Côte d’Ivoire. She reportedly informed her parents about the opportunity because she believed it was genuine, only to discover upon arrival that she had been deceived.
She explained that she and other affected persons were allegedly confined, monitored and prevented from freely communicating with their families. She later escaped with assistance from residents who helped her contact a humanitarian organisation.
The teenagers were among Nigerians rescued through a joint operation involving the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Côte d’Ivoire authorities and the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation.
Child protection advocates say the case highlights how trafficking networks exploit adolescents through false employment promises, especially when young people are seeking financial independence or better opportunities.
They stressed that children and adolescents affected by trafficking require continued protection, including safe reintegration, psychosocial support, access to education and assistance to recover from the harm they experienced.
The incident has renewed calls for families, communities and authorities to strengthen awareness around fraudulent recruitment schemes and ensure young people verify employment opportunities before travelling.
