The House of Representatives has directed the National Agency for the
Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to publish the names and
photos of sex traffickers.
NAN reports that this followed a unanimous adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Rimamnde Kwewum (PDP-Taraba) and seven others.
Presenting the motion, “Need to Investigate the Degrading Sex Slavery
Nigerian Women are Subjected to”, Kwewum lamented that there were
currently thousands of Nigerian women and underage girls turned into sex
slaves globally.
The lawmaker said that some West African countries had “become
notorious in maltreating Nigerian women, keeping them as sex slaves”.
He said that several investigations carried out by NAPTIP showed that
between 20,000 to 30,000 Nigerian girls were sex slaves with 50 girls
being added to the list every day.
“Because of increased efforts of the security agencies, traffickers
no longer accompany their victims to Mali but now “waybill” the girls
through Cotonou.”
He added that the victims were deceived by friends and relatives to
leave Nigeria to work as domestic helps, hair dressers or in sales in
“Mali-sia”.
Kwewum said that NAPTIP investigations also revealed that the girls
were trafficked to the mining areas and rebel held areas of Mali.
He said the report showed that Malian law enforcement agencies
collected taxes from Nigerian women on a weekly basis, treated them
forced them to use condoms.
“Nigerian women are forced by their ‘Madams’ to sleep with numerous
men, without using any protection, hence the high incidence of sexually
transmitted diseases and other ailments.
He said that in spite of numerous reports and pictures of trafficking
sent to Nigerian security agencies at the borders, no action had been
taken to curb the practice.
“The House is concerned that several of the girls tricked into
travelling out of the country have been brutally penalised (by the
traffickers) for insisting that they would not prostitute.
“The house also observes that current efforts to combat the menace
are commendable though not far reaching and comprehensive and have not
been adequately funded”, Kwewum added.
The lawmakers urged personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service at
the ports and borders of Nigeria to permit trained NAPTIP officials to
operate, to spot, identify and prevent the illicit emigration of
potential victims.
It also directed the Committee on Human Rights to conduct
investigation into all aspects of sex slavery and recommend appropriate
budgeting and legislative measures.