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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol.7, No.6

Publication Date: June 25, 2020

DOI:10.14738/assrj.76.8444.

Okafor, N.I., Iwuagwu, A.O., Gobo, B.N., Ngwu, C.N., Obi-Keguna C.N., Nwatu, U.L & Rahman, F.N. (2020). Perception Of Illegal Migration

And Sex Trafficking In Europe Among Younger Women Of Oredo LGA, Edo State, Nigeria: The Social Work And Ethical Considerations.

Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 7(6) 557-573.

Perception of Illegal Migration And Sex Trafficking In Europe Among

Younger Women Of Oredo Lga, Edo State, Nigeria: The Social Work

And Ethical Considerations

Okafor Nneka Ifeoma

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Iwuagwu Anthony Obinna

University of Southampton, Uk

Gobo Blessing Ngowari

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Ngwu Christopher Ndubuisi

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Obi-Keguna Christy Ngozi

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Nwatu Uche Louisa

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Rahman Farah Naz

Centre for Injury Prevention and Research,

Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

The movement of human populations across the planet has

characterized human societies throughout history. However, the

increasing rate of such movements across National borders has been in

such a way that violates the immigration laws of the destination country,

put trafficked persons at risk and has given birth to modern day slavery.

This study was therefore designed to ascertain the perception of illegal

migration and sex trafficking in Europe among young women in Oredo,

Benin City, Nigeria. The study used a multi stage random sample of 90

women aged 18-40 years whom were interviewed using in-depth

interviews (20) and Focus Group Discussions guides (7). The qualitative

data generated were content analyzed and the results indicate that

majority of the women perceive illegal migration and sex trafficking in

Europe negatively. They however would not discourage anyone who

wishes to engage in the act, partly due to the socio-economic benefits

derived therein. Given that illegal migration and sex trafficking in

Europe is inimical to human and societal well-being, it therefore

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URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.76.8444 558

Okafor, N.I., Iwuagwu, A.O., Gobo, B.N., Ngwu, C.N., Obi-Keguna C.N., Nwatu, U.L & Rahman, F.N. (2020). Perception Of Illegal Migration And Sex Trafficking

In Europe Among Younger Women Of Oredo LGA, Edo State, Nigeria: The Social Work And Ethical Considerations. Advances in Social Sciences Research

Journal, 7(6) 557-573.

becomes necessary for social workers and ethical practitioners to

advocate the formulation of policies and programmes focusing on

ethical migration practice and women empowerment with aim to

rehabilitate and reduce human sex exploitation.

Keywords: illegal migration, sex trafficking, ethics, social work, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION

Illegal migration and human sex trafficking are acts closely intertwined. Universally, it is ethical for

persons to migrate from place to place and freely associate with others; provided they follow the

given procedures for migration (Yacine, 2015). It is in same vein that social work professionals are

committed to human rights and social justice particularly on behalf of people who are vulnerable,

oppressed and/or may be at risk (NASW, 2003). Given both professional values stance on migration

and human wellbeing, it is perhaps surprising that scholars of ethics and social work have raised

very scanty literature on issues on migration and human wellbeing (Hodge, 2008).

Migration is traceable to mankind’s history. Humans have always gotten involved in movement

activities. This has been a major feature in the history of Africa and the world in general

(Akanji, 2012; Ebri, 2017). Retrospectively, the desire of man to go in search of food during various

famine seasons and the desire of standing out from the crowd as well as seeking for independence

gave rise to migration (Lynette, 2007). Generally, migration consists of the Internal and

international types. Internal migration simply put is the movement of individuals within the same

geographical location while International Migration has to do with the crossing of borders or

international boundaries (Ebri, 2017). Additionally, Migration takes various patterns such as

slave trade, colonization, urbanization, industrialization and globalization (Iheanacho &

Ughaerumba, 2015). It is on this fore that Swende, Sokpo and Tamen (2008) asserted that

international migration as a consequence of globalization has increasingly affected health in

migrant source, transit and recipient nations.

The International Organization Migration (2014) reports that, developing countries engage more in

International Migration than the developed countries. The reason for this can be traced to the

various acclaimed benefits of International migration. These benefits ranges from lucrative job

opportunities, international education certifications, interconnectedness, international relations

between countries creating avenue for interdependence most especially in the aspect of manpower

which has painfully resulted in trafficking in persons (Fayomi, 2013; Ebri, 2017).

Trafficking involves the transfer of human beings particularly women, children and other able- bodied youths from one place to another, at-times across national and international borders by the

traffickers for the purpose of subjecting the trafficked persons to prostitution, drug peddling or

child labour (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2013; Njoku, 2015). Dovydaitis (2010)

confirmed that there are approximately 800,000 people trafficked across international borders

annually and, of these, 80% are women or girls and 50% are minors. To further compound the

problem, Uwa, Okor and Ahmed (2014) reported that estimation by UNICEF has it that over 1.2

million children worldwide are trafficked annually and the Niger delta region is the most

susceptible in the country partly due to poverty, lack of opportunities, instability and corruption.

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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol.7, Issue 6, June-2020

Although the degree of trafficking among countries and continents varies, it is clear that global

trafficking has become a growing problem.

Trafficking in human beings is modern-day slavery and has become a widespread phenomenon

mostly in Africa. Two hundred years after the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the

trafficking of African children continues unabated (Uwa, Okor and Ahmed, 2014). Neha, Deshpande,

Nawal and Nour (2013), concurred when they said that human trafficking is seen as a modern day

form of slavery because it involves some form of forced exploitation which are illegal with sexual

exploitation being the most prevalent therein. UNODC (2016) reported that 54 percent of all

trafficking victims in 2014 were trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. There are several

recurrent tactics of manipulation used to coerce victims into situations of sex trafficking. Most

commonly, victims are promised a good job, education, or citizenship in a foreign country or offered

a false marriage proposal that is turned into bondage (Neha et al., 2013).

Sex trafficking is an umbrella term that may include commercial sex work such as prostitution, but

also pornography, exotic dancing, stripping, live sex shows, mail-order brides, military prostitution,

and sexual tourism (Neha, Deshpande, Nawal and Nour, 2013). Specifically, scholars (Sandru, 1996;

Bertone, 2000; Okonofua, Ogbomwan, Alutu, Okop, & Aghahowa, 2004) define sex trafficking as the

illicit transportation of women into foreign countries for the purposes of sexual exploitation and for

economic and other personal gains. Although victims of sex trafficking can be of any age and of

either sex, the majority are women and adolescent girls (Dovydaitis, 2010). In the words of Grit,

Otterand Spreij (2012) over the last decade, international migration has continued to rise despite

the efforts of many countries to tighen their borders.

Most Nigerians who fall victim of human sex trafficking, pass through Niger, Mali, Tunisia, Morocco

or Libya en route to Europe (Ojugbana, 2015; Njoku, 2015). Yearly, women are trafficked from Edo

state to Europe for the purpose of prostitution. Most women leaving Edo State for Europe to work

as prostitutes mostly go to Italy while others go to the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Belgium and

Austria (Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, 2002; Okojie, Okojie, Eghafona, Vincent- Osaghae, & Kalu, 2003). Adversely, international migration, which is a supporting component and a

consequence of globalization, increasingly affects health in migrant source, transit, and recipient

nations (Swende, Sokpo, Tamen, 2008) and also infringes on the United Nations fundamental

human rights. Hence, it was no longer news when Rahman (2011) averred that at least 117 nations

ratified the UN convention of the year 2000 to outlaw the trafficking of persons; however, the act is

still widely prevalent on a global scale with Africa being the highest.

Trafficking of women and children across local boarders in Africa has been on the increase despite

counter-measures by government agencies and anti-trafficking organizations (Otti, 2011).

Ojugbana (2015) stated that, a report on human trafficking and migration to Europe shows an

increase as in the year 2014 as 170, 100 persons arrived Italy by sea, compared to 141, 484

migrants that were ferried through the Mediterranean Sea from Libya in 2013. In the case of Nigeria,

most of the migrants were victims of human trafficking hoodwinked by syndicates as a result of

their desperation to travel to Europe or Asia for a better life. In Benin City, the capital of Edo State,

there was traffickers who specialize in recruiting and sponsoring young ladies to Europe especially

Italy, Amsterdam and Belgium for prostitution. Consequently, it was estimated that no fewer than

100,000 young Nigerian women had been sold into sex slavery as prostitutes, servicing ‘top guns’