Four girls from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, including a 14-year-old minor, have been rescued from a human trafficking ring in Morila, Mali.
The rescue followed a joint intervention by the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation, GAHTO, and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP.
In a statement issued on Monday by GAHTO founder, Prosper Michael, the victims were said to have been lured to Mali with promises of jobs in gold mining and shops but were forced into prostitution on arrival.
According to the statement, the rescue was triggered by a distress message sent by one of the girls through WhatsApp after using Artificial Intelligence to seek help.
Michael said the alert was first received by Geoffrey, Head of Operations at NAPTIP’s Uyo Command, who contacted him for assistance. He subsequently reached one of the victims and worked with a Nigerian community leader in Mali to facilitate their safe return.
One of the victims, Sekinat, 23, an auxiliary nurse, said she was promised a legitimate job by her mother’s friend.
“I started the journey on October 14 and got there on October 19. When I got there, she collected my phone and ID cards. She later told me that the work they do here is prostitution. I thought it was a joke,” she said.
Sekinat alleged that the trafficker threatened to sell or kill girls who refused to engage in prostitution. She added that the trafficker collected CFA2.5m to facilitate their journey but instructed them to tell the embassy she spent CFA1.5m.
She explained that the victims eventually obtained a hidden phone and used AI on WhatsApp to find help after an initial attempt to contact a Nigerian Army officer failed.
“We sent him our pictures, our madam’s number and her name and the name of the area. We were four in number,” she said.
Geoffrey said the victim’s message read, “I am a Nigerian girl, trapped in Mali. My madam seized my passport and asked me to go and be doing hook-up. Please, our life is in danger.”
He said the girl explained that AI provided his contact after she searched for assistance.
Geoffrey described the discovery that a 14-year-old was among the victims as disturbing.
“How can he send a child of 14 years? Irrespective of the work she wants to go and do there, it is abuse. It is child abuse,” he said, referring to the minor’s father who reportedly approved her trip.
Michael described human trafficking abroad as alarming, saying, “Our people are crying for rescue every day and we must be there for them.”
The rescue team called on Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the Kogi State Government to provide medical care, counselling and educational support for the survivors.
They also urged authorities to investigate the alleged trafficking network and prosecute those responsible.
The four girls are currently undergoing care and rehabilitation.
