Nigerian Women Share Harrowing Accounts of human Trafficking Abroad

CNN journalist Arwa Damon recently spoke with two Nigerian women who survived sex trafficking, revealing the shocking realities they endured after being lured overseas.

One survivor, who asked to be identified as Sandra, described being deceived by a man she met at a church in Edo State, who claimed to be an assistant pastor. He convinced her that a relative could help her secure a job at a European hair salon, and to ensure her compliance, he took personal items including her clothes and hair to a juju priest, claiming it would guarantee repayment of a $45,000 debt for her flight.

Sandra recounted a terrifying experience where she faced brutal physical abuse. “There were five of them. They beat me and threatened me with a knife. Most Nigerian girls don’t survive such pressure,” she said. She was eventually pushed out of a second-story window after refusing to comply.

Another victim, Ede, described being sold into sexual slavery in Libya. “They treated us like slaves and sold us repeatedly,” she said. “Especially for Nigerians, it was harsh—they considered us worthless. We endured unimaginable suffering.”

These accounts underscore the dangers of human trafficking targeting Nigerian women, as well as the urgent need for awareness, prevention, and protection for vulnerable individuals.