Nigerian Trafficking

Many of those affected by human trafficking, who are counseled and supported by SOLWODI, come from Nigeria or other West African Countries. They are brought to Europe to be sexually exploited. The traffickers can rely on well-established networks, that enable them to smuggle the women across borders. Often so called "Madams" are central to this process, women who were often victims of human trafficking themselves. However, nowadays more and more nigerian secret societies, e.g. Black Axe or Supreme Eye, are penetrating the business. These associations tend to be characterized by a remarkably high willingness to use violence. An increasing spreas of this form of organized crime can also be observed in Germany.

The women and girls affected often come from precarious backgrounds and have little or no schooling education.  It is not uncommon for them to have already experienced violence in the family or in their social environment. Some grow up as orphans or half-orphans with relatives, do not always experience affection and are considered a useless mouths to feed. All this makes the women and girls susceptible to promises of well-paid jobs, e.g. as nannies or waitresses in faraway Europe. Sometimes uncles, brothers or other relatives are also involved in the “sale” of a girl.

The women have to sign debt papers for the travel costs, which can amount to €30-50,000 or more. These sums are far from reality, but the women do not realize this, especially as they have no idea of the exchange rates. Many believe that they can work off the money in Europe in a few months and then earn money for themselves or their families. Even if they are aware that they are supposed to work in prostitution, they often have no idea of the duration and the violent and humiliating practices they have to experience there.

The Juju-Vow

The women often have to undergo a juju ritual in Nigeria. Their pubic hair, fingernails and blood or other bodily fluids are removed and they have to swear an oath to repay their travel debts and not to reveal anything about the traffickers' activities to anyone, especially not the authorities.  If they violate the oath, they and their family are threatened with death, madness and misfortune. Although the Oba, the spiritual leader of the Kingdom of Benin, abolished all juju oaths associated with human trafficking and forced prostitution in 2018 and prohibited his priests from taking such oaths, many women are still pressured to do so or have to take the oath in a neighboring state in Nigeria. Many women still believe in the power of the ritual and the juju oath binds them more effectively than rocks or violence could.

Assaults and violence on the journey

The women and girls are rarely brought to Europe by plane; more often they are taken by bus or truck across Africa to Libya, to the Mediterranean coast. The women suffer unspeakable hardships, hunger and thirst. Many report their first sexual assaults or even rapes on the 2,000 km journey.

In Libya, women are often intercepted by criminal gangs who force them into prostitution in so-called connection houses until the Madam can pay for their freedom. The women are exposed to severe violence here; rape, beatings, stab wounds and cigarette burns are not uncommon.

The women are usually smuggled on to Italy via the Mediterranean route, where the Nigerian secret societies are particularly well connected. Some women are brought to Europe via Spain or France. Many women report that their IDs, cash and cell phones were taken from them and that they were forced to work on street prostitution.

In Germany

Some women manage to escape to Germany. Others are brought here by human traffickers to turn them into prostitutes. The women are closely monitored and threatened with the police and serious consequences because they are in Europe illegally. They are locked up and isolated and subdued with violence and threats. Many women are prostituted in apartments because they do not have a legal residence permit and should not be visible in public. The women are often moved from city to city to fulfill the clients' need for variety. The women concerned often do not even know where they are. The women are afraid of the police and authorities and only a few manage to contact a specialized information center.