GAHTO Raises Alarm as Human Trafficking Surges Across Africa

Esther Oluku

The Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organization (GAHTO) has raised serious concerns over the alarming rise in human trafficking across Africa as survivors recount disturbing experiences.

Speaking at a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti, GAHTO Founder, Prosper Michael, expressed concern over what he described as one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises globally.

He noted that human trafficking remains a grave crime against humanity, driven by organized cross border networks that exploit vulnerable individuals through deception, coercion, and false promises.

Three young Nigerian women, Abibat (17), Boluwatife (20), and Zainab (22), shared how they were lured with promises of legitimate jobs in Malaysia, only to be trafficked to Mali and other African countries for forced prostitution.

Recruited by a suspected agent identified as Peter Osas, the victims were instructed to comply without questioning and reassured through a staged video call with a woman known as Angel.

Their journey began on February 17, 2026, moving from Lagos through the Seme border into Cotonou, Benin Republic, and across multiple undocumented routes.

Upon arrival in a remote Malian settlement identified as Jabani, the victims realized the deception. They were renamed, placed under strict surveillance, and forced into sexual exploitation under a debt bondage system of approximately 1.2 million CFA francs each.

The victims described harsh conditions, including physical abuse, illness, restricted communication, and constant pressure to meet daily financial targets. Also, they reported the presence of underage girls, some as young as 13, facing similar exploitation.

Their eventual rescue was made possible through coordinated efforts by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and GAHTO, following re-established contact with their families.

GAHTO has appealed to the Nigerian government, international organizations, and private individuals to collaborate in combating human trafficking emphasizing that collective action is essential to dismantle trafficking networks and prevent further victimization.

Survivors have also urged young Nigerians to be cautious of overseas job offers that seem too good to be true, warning that deception remains a primary tactic used by traffickers.