Four Nigerian girls from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, including a 14-year-old minor, have been rescued from suspected human traffickers in Morila, Mali, following a joint intervention by the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The victims were reportedly deceived into travelling to Mali with promises of employment opportunities in gold mines and shops but were allegedly forced into prostitution after arriving in the country.
The rescue followed a distress message sent by one of the girls through WhatsApp, prompting intervention by NAPTIP and GAHTO.
According to a statement issued on Monday by GAHTO founder, Prosper Michael, one of the victims used an artificial intelligence tool to seek assistance after finding herself trapped and unable to escape from the alleged traffickers.
Michael said the message was received by the NAPTIP Uyo Command, which subsequently contacted him to facilitate efforts to locate and rescue the girls.
He explained that he established communication with one of the victims and worked with a Nigerian community leader in Mali to coordinate the operation.
The distress message reportedly sent by one of the girls highlighted the danger they were facing and the alleged control exercised by their trafficker.
According to NAPTIP Uyo Command, the message read: “I am a Nigerian girl, trapped in Mali. My madam seized my passport and asked me to go and be doing hook-up. Please, our lives are in danger.”
The victim reportedly explained that an artificial intelligence tool provided contact information that helped her reach out for assistance.
The development highlights how digital tools and online communication can provide a means of seeking help for people trapped in dangerous situations, particularly when they have limited access to conventional support channels.
NAPTIP expressed concern over the involvement of a 14-year-old girl in the incident, describing her trafficking experience as a serious case of child abuse.
The command also questioned how the minor’s father could have approved her journey to Mali under the circumstances.
One of the survivors, identified as Sekinat, a 23-year-old auxiliary nurse, recounted how she became involved in the journey after being introduced to the supposed employment opportunity by a friend of her mother.
According to her, the woman assured her that legitimate work was available in Mali, leading her to believe she was travelling for employment.
Sekinat said she began the journey on October 14 and arrived in Mali on October 19. However, she claimed that the reality was completely different from what she had been promised.
She alleged that upon arrival, the woman collected her phone and identification documents before informing her that the work available was prostitution.
“When I got there, she collected my phone and ID cards. She later told me that the work they do here is prostitution. I thought it was a joke,” she was quoted as saying.
The survivor further alleged that the woman threatened to sell or kill any of the girls who refused to participate in prostitution.
She also claimed that the alleged trafficker collected CFA2.5 million to facilitate their journey to Mali but instructed them to tell embassy officials that she had spent CFA1.5 million bringing them into the country.
Sekinat said the victims eventually gained access to a hidden phone, which they used to seek help after an earlier attempt to contact a Nigerian Army officer reportedly failed.
Through WhatsApp and an artificial intelligence tool, they were able to obtain contact details that helped them reach individuals who could intervene.
She said the girls sent their photographs, the alleged trafficker’s telephone number, her name and the name of the area where they were being held to facilitate their identification and rescue.
We sent him our pictures, our madam’s number and her name and the name of the area. We were four in number,” she said.
The information reportedly helped Michael establish contact with the victims and coordinate their rescue with assistance from a Nigerian community leader in Mali.
Following the rescue, the intervention team called on the Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the Kogi State Government to provide comprehensive support for the survivors.
The requested assistance includes medical attention, psychosocial support, counselling and educational support to help the girls recover and rebuild their lives.
The team also urged relevant Nigerian and Malian authorities to investigate the alleged trafficking operation, identify those involved and ensure that anyone found responsible is apprehended and prosecuted.
The four survivors are currently receiving care and undergoing rehabilitation, according to the report.
The incident underscores the dangers of deceptive overseas employment offers, particularly those targeting young Nigerians with promises of better opportunities abroad.
The alleged seizure of the victims’ passports and identification documents, alongside threats and forced prostitution, illustrates the methods traffickers may use to control and exploit vulnerable individuals.
The rescue also draws attention to the importance of vigilance when accepting employment offers from acquaintances or intermediaries, especially where travel arrangements, employers and job conditions have not been independently verified.
For the rescued girls, the immediate priority remains access to medical care, psychological support, protection and opportunities to return to education or pursue legitimate livelihoods.
The case has also renewed attention on the need for stronger cross-border cooperation to identify trafficking networks, protect victims and bring alleged perpetrators to justice.
