As the world becomes increasingly interconnected through digital technology, sinister forces exploit this connectivity for nefarious purposes. One Nigerian victim has bravely come forward to reveal the harrowing ordeal she endured after being trafficked to Ghana, shedding light on the dark underbelly of cybercrime exploitation.
Gladys Osayande, a 28-year-old from Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, recounted her traumatic experience after being lured to Ghana under false pretenses of job opportunities. Instead, she found herself trapped in a nightmare of physical abuse and coercion into cybercrime activities.
Osayande disclosed that traffickers subjected her to grueling work hours and imposed a weekly quota of $10,000, threatening starvation and sexual violence if she failed to meet targets. Shockingly, she was forced to engage in cybersex acts, which were streamed on pornographic platforms for profit.
Another victim, 23-year-old Uchedun Ndidi, fell prey to a similar scheme under the guise of pursuing education in Ghana. Instead, she was coerced into participating in online scams, enduring abuse and exploitation.
The traffickers’ tactics exploit vulnerabilities exacerbated by economic hardships and unemployment in Nigeria. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nigeria has the highest number of unidentified trafficking victims in West Africa.
Traffickers capitalize on porous borders and corrupt practices to facilitate their operations, using routes such as the Seme and Idiroko borders in Lagos and Ogun states. Victims are often transported through illegal channels, evading scrutiny by authorities.
Despite efforts by law enforcement agencies, including the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), prosecution remains challenging due to procedural delays and victims’ reluctance to pursue legal action.
The case underscores the urgent need for collaborative action to combat human trafficking and cybercrime across borders. Initiatives like the ALTP Project, supported by organizations such as Expertise France, aim to address these issues and work towards ending modern slavery by 2030.
The testimonies of survivors like Gladys Osayande and Uchedun Ndidi serve as a sobering reminder of the ongoing battle against human exploitation in the digital age, calling for greater vigilance and concerted efforts to protect the vulnerable.
