Staving-Off the Menace of Human Trafficking in Africa and Rethinking the Way Forward: Nigeria, a Case in Point

Abstract

Historically, Africa has been recognized as a ground for the export of slaves. This vestige was left on Africa right from the days of colonialism when the British and the French subjugated Africans. In order words, Africans were perceived as slaves who had no prospect for existence. Sadly, several years after emancipation from slavery so many Africans have still not being liberated. This is based on the premise that so many are still being coerced into modern day slavery out of their own personal will, while a large number of victims are propelled into it as a result of difficult circumstances staring them in the face most especially in Nigeria where the level of crippling poverty has been discovered as one of the causal factors. Pathetically, the bulk of the primary victims are women and children whose lives have being practically ruined by this horrible experience. In this contemporary age, human trafficking has become another means of enslaving Africans of which Nigerians are not excluded. It is the modern day slavery that has continued to thrive because of its profitability without taking cognizance of the fact that it culminates in absolute devaluation of the victims’ human rights as encapsulated in various international, regional and national laws. Admittedly, trafficking has in recent years turned a veritable source of income in the hands of perpetrators of this clandestine and organized crime. It is a complex, multi-faceted phenomenon involving multiple stakeholders at the institutional and commercial level.Also, trafficking has become a demand-driven global business with huge market for cheap labor, commercial sex and other human rights abuses. Nigeria which is a case in point in this paper, has acquired a reputation for being one of the leading African countries in human trafficking ranging from cross-border to internal trafficking. Contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and other national and international legislations against trafficking, slavery and abuse of dignity of person’s, perpetrators continue to flout human rights with impunity.Respect for human rights in Nigeria has plummeted drastically as these fundamental human rights are being subverted on daily basis as a result of lack of enforcement of these laws. The downward trajectory in the respect for human rights in Nigeria needs serious attention.Indubitably, trafficking of persons is the third largest crime after economic fraud and drug trade. In Nigeria, victims of trafficking have found themselves involved in prostitution, hard labor, domestic services and street begging just to mention a few. Unfortunately, Most of these victims never bargained for this. They were either lured or forced into it.Nigeria as a country witnesses internal trafficking on a daily basis from one State to another most especially migration to the urban centers from the rural areas and slums where the standard of living is nothing to write home about. Victims’ of these criminal acts are predominantly those from very poor backgrounds who cannot afford basic needs of livelihood. They eventually end up as victims in the hands of pimps who dissuade them and use them as a means of enriching their own personal pockets with little or no benefit for the victims. These perpetrators who are majorly referred to as ‘pimps’ or ‘madam’ are the ones behind the movement of these victims from one location to another because of the financial consideration they get from the business. Further still, there had been dart of court cases in Nigeria against perpetrators which is why this venture has continued to flourish rapidly.Despite international conventions and domestic laws, there remains indifference and a lack of commitment to protect those most at risk through implementation of legislation, awareness, information, and training of the authorities responsible for providing protection.In the light of the above, this paper shall consider the root causes of trafficking and the damaging effect so far on the Nigerian society with particular focus on victims and move on to propose measures that would assist in protecting and enhancing human rights. Also, this paper will examine the rights based approach in the areas of remedies available to victims and the appropriate penalties that must be meted-out to human traffickers and the end users.