The Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO) has urged urgent, coordinated action against rising human trafficking cases. GAHTO founder, Prosper Michael, appealed to the Nigerian government, private individuals, and international organisations to dismantle trafficking networks. He described human trafficking as one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises worldwide.
It thrives on deception, coercion, and false promises. “Human trafficking is a grave crime against humanity. Networks exploit vulnerable individuals, stripping them of dignity and freedom,” he stated. Michael highlighted the need for rescue, rehabilitation, and empowerment, stressing that resources remain limited without external support. Three survivors, Abibat, Boluwatife, and Zainab, shared their harrowing stories of forced exploitation.
They were promised jobs abroad but trafficked to Mali. The victims explained how a suspected agent, Peter Osas, lured them through staged video calls with a woman called “Angel.” Their journey began on February 17, 2026, from Lagos through Benin Republic into Mali via undocumented routes. “They changed our names, restricted our movement, and forced us into prostitution,” one survivor said.
Debt bondage, physical abuse, and harsh working conditions marked their ordeal. Some girls were reportedly as young as 13. GAHTO and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons rescued the victims after family intervention. Michael warned that trafficking affects men and women, often exploiting laborers or forcing women into sexual exploitation abroad. He called for immediate evacuation of stranded Nigerians and the creation of vocational training centres to rehabilitate survivors.
