Over 3,000 Nigerian girls arrived Italy for prostitution from January till date
– The trafficking of Nigerian women to different parts of the world is reaching n alarming rate
– Nigerian women have over the years been collected and forced into prostitution across Europe
– The number of Nigerian women in Italy for prostitution at the moment is a cause of concern
The United Nation’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has raised an alarm over the large number of Nigerian women flooding into Italy from Libya for prostitution.
According to IOM, about 3,600 Nigerian women arrived by boat into Italy in the first six months of this year, almost double the number who came into the country within the same period last year.
Loveth, 21, in a shelter for victims of sex trafficking in Italy. She was 17 when she left Nigeria. Photo credit: UK Guardian
As the case has been over the years, more than 80% of these women will be trafficked into prostitution in Italy and across Europe.
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An anti-trafficking expert at the IOM, Simona Moscarelli said: “What we have seen this year is a crisis, it is absolutely unprecedented and is the most significant increase in the number of Nigerian women arriving in Italy for 10 years.
“Our indicators are the majority of these women are being deliberately brought in for sexual exploitation purposes. There has been a big enhancement of criminal gangs and trafficking networks engaging in the sexual exploitation of younger and younger Nigerian girls.”
According to the UK Guardian, there has been a marked increase in the numbers of unaccompanied Nigerian women arriving in Italy on migrant boats from Libya.
In 2014, about 1,500 Nigerian women arrived by sea. In 2015 this figure had increased to 5,633.
“Already we have seen nearly 4,000 women come in the first six months of this year. We are expecting the numbers to have increased again by the end of this year,” Moscarelli said.
She continued: “Most Nigerian women who arrive in Italy are already victims of trafficking, many have been subjected to serious sexual exploitation on their journey. Many are forced into prostitution in Libya.
“The women we are seeing are increasingly young, many are unaccompanied minors when they arrive and the violence and exploitation they face when they are under the control of these gangs is getting worse. They are really treated like slaves.”
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Investigations reveal that many Nigerian women arrive in Italy with debts of about £40,000 for their journey from Nigeria to Italy, which they are expected to pay back to their sponsors.
Nigerian trafficking mafia employ tricks like false promises of legitimate employment and traditional “juju” ceremonies to recruit and gain psychological control over their victims.
The women are led to believe that terrible things will happen to them and their families if they fail to honour their debts. They are then forced into prostitution on streets and brothels across Europe.
The trafficker was said to have promised the ladies education and work in Europe.
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