Nigerian woman sentenced to 12 years in Ivory Coast for sex trafficking

Nigerian woman sentenced to 12 years in Ivory Coast for sex trafficking while four girls are rescued

A Nigerian woman, Sandra Okon from Akwa Ibom State, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for sex trafficking by the Boundiali Court in Ivory Coast.

The conviction comes after four young Nigerian girls, who were trafficked to Mali under false promises of legitimate work, were successfully rescued.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in collaboration with the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organization (GAHTO), based in Mali, coordinated the operation, which led to the safe recovery of the young women.

Emmanuel Awhen, NAPTIP’s Uyo Zone Commander, revealed the details at a press conference in Uyo, noting the challenges of dismantling cross-border smuggling networks.

“These young women have endured severe hardship, but thanks to the prompt intervention of NAPTIP and GAHTO, they are now safe and receiving the necessary support to reintegrate into society,” Awhen said.

He explained that the girls were tricked by traffickers who lured them under the guise of jobs in supermarkets and salons, but instead forced them into sexual exploitation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the operation was launched when one of the girls managed to contact a NAPTIP official through someone else’s phone, explaining her situation and sending voice messages that facilitated a coordinated rescue with international partners made possible.

The rescued girls revealed that more than fifty young Nigerian women are trapped in similar situations in Mali, forced into forced prostitution.

In response, Awhen urged parents and guardians to be cautious of persons offering foreign jobs and appealed to the Akwa Ibom State government for more support in combating human trafficking.