Gender Variability in Processes of Migrants’ Smuggling Along the Nigerian–Libyan Corridor

Abstract

While varying factors have been adduced as facilitators of budding patterns of irregular mobility across the Sahara, a pivotal issue of concern amid the crisis has been lack of appropriate gender profiling of various actors. Engaging an exploratory design (which combines case profiling, in-depth interviews [IDIs], and focus group discussions [FGDs]) and ‘actor-network’ theoretical approach, which affirms the significance of both human and nonhuman agencies in processes of irregular transnational mobility, this study assesses the interpositions of gender and migrants’ smuggling along the Nigerian–Libyan migratory corridor. Although organized crime is explored as a general notion, the emphasis in the study has been on specific gender roles of individual actors (between the point of migrants’ departure [Benin City, Nigeria] and the point of migrants’ processing [Agadez, Niger Republic]). Of what significance are gender categories (male and female) in the recruitment of ‘organizers’ and ‘subjects’ of migrants’ smuggling within these study locations? Though it has been assumed that the female gender has often been at the receiving end of most organized irregular mobilities along the Nigerian–Libyan corridor, findings from this study have shown that female network actors have been as active as their male network counterparts in processes of migrants’ smuggling. The outcomes of this study have been particularly useful in situating the interpositions of gender and smuggling of migrants along the Nigerian–Libyan corridor within an appropriate epistemological context.