A disturbing new trend in human trafficking, referred to as “networking,” has come to light, wherein individuals are deceived into abandoning their promising jobs with the lure of employment at a gold company in Burkina Faso.
Recent findings reveal that unsuspecting members of the public, including artisans and civil servants, have fallen victim to this nefarious scheme that enslaves people in foreign countries.
One such victim, a 30-year-old man from Igede Ekiti, recently opened up to his family about his harrowing experience after being lured into this situation. Preferring to remain anonymous, he disclosed that he was persuaded by a community member, Mr. Austin, who assured him that working in a gold company in Burkina Faso would be far more lucrative than his current job in Nigeria. Despite his initial hesitation, he ultimately agreed to the offer after consulting with others. However, the reality he faced upon arrival was drastically different from what he had been promised.
A family member informed our reporter that upon reaching Burkina Faso, the victim and approximately 25 others were crammed into a single room. They were relegated to performing odd jobs, receiving no wages until they recruited additional individuals from Nigeria.
This alarming situation has raised significant concern among citizens, who are now urging relevant agencies, including the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, the Immigration Service, and the Ekiti State government, to investigate the matter and take decisive action to halt the trafficking of able-bodied Nigerians into slavery in Burkina Faso.
