Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO) has raised fresh alarm over the rising cases of human trafficking following the rescue of a 22-year-old physically challenged girl from Imo State, Njoku Princess Nnena.
The organisation has called on the Imo State government to urgently intervene and provide support systems aimed at empowering victims and preventing further exploitation, reports Daily Independent.
Nnena, who was recently rescued and returned to Nigeria from Mali on Good Friday, recounted her ordeal, revealing how she became entangled in a trafficking network operating across West Africa.
According to her, she left home in search of better economic opportunities to support herself, her three-year-old son, and her mother.
Her journey took her from Onitsha to Lagos, where she was introduced to a woman allegedly operating from an underbridge known for recruiting young girls for overseas connections.
She disclosed that after initial arrangements, she was moved through Cotonou in the Benin Republic before arriving in Mali, where she was handed over to another contact believed to be part of a trafficking syndicate.
In Mali, Nnena said she was taken to a building where several Nigerian girls were living under the control of a “madam.”
She alleged that the girls were forced into prostitution and required to remit their earnings, although no clear repayment terms were given.
However, her stay was cut short after her health deteriorated significantly. Nnena, who suffers from epilepsy linked to a childhood stroke, revealed that she ran out of medication during the journey. Her condition worsened upon arrival, rendering her unable to continue with the activities expected of her.
She was subsequently sent back to Nigeria and later rescued with the assistance of GAHTO.
Providing further insight, her mother, Mrs. Ipe Ikenna Lora, described years of medical and emotional hardship. She explained that Nnena’s condition began at the age of two with convulsions, which later progressed into coma and eventually developed into epilepsy, accompanied by memory loss.
Mrs. Lora also revealed that her husband abandoned the family, blaming her for complications during pregnancy. Since then, she has struggled alone to care for her daughter while running a small business.
She added that the stress has affected her own health, leading to high blood pressure, and noted that her daughter’s memory challenges sometimes cause her to wander off, creating constant fear and anxiety.
The mother said she was unaware of her daughter’s journey to Mali until she was contacted by GAHTO following her rescue.
Now back in Nigeria, Nnena is seeking a fresh start. Currently an SS2 student, she expressed a strong desire to continue her education or acquire vocational skills that would enable her to become self-reliant. She also appealed for financial assistance to help manage her health condition.
Her mother joined in calling on the government, humanitarian organizations, and well-meaning Nigerians to support her daughter’s rehabilitation and reintegration.
Reacting to the development, GAHTO expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of trafficking involving young girls from Imo State and other parts of Nigeria.
The organisation urged relevant stakeholders, including the Wife of the Imo State Governor, Chioma D. Uzodinma, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Nkechinyere Ugwu, to take decisive action.
GAHTO emphasised the need for increased public awareness, stronger preventive measures, and comprehensive rehabilitation programs for survivors.
The organisation noted that Nnena’s experience highlights the urgent need to address the socio-economic and health vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit, while strengthening collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and communities to combat human trafficking and support victims in rebuilding their lives.
