We had problems pre-pandemic and it seemed like all our other problems disappeared immediately the pandemic became a more worrisome issue.

In a discourse with Rubbin’ Minds host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Dr Pedro Alonso stated that Africa would be facing a major disaster if we shift too much attention away from the fact that malaria is killing people in tens of hundreds. There are, indeed, other silent killers and we need to sustain the fight against those ones too.

For Enugu this time, it is a human trafficking story – a practice that has relatively become a culture in parts of Nigeria. Said that way because many of these traffickers simply ‘want to survive poor leadership and hard times.’  But then, the trafficked people sometimes literally have no idea what is going on. They just flow with the vibes.

Context:

Aljazeera published a feature story on human trafficking in Enugu. It is a story of how girls are ‘taken’ from their homes, promised better lives and made to live as ‘baby producers.’

“We were both very excited to travel to Enugu,” Miriam says. “We had suffered so much for four years and were happy to go somewhere new to start a new life.”

Their happiness was short-lived.

“Mma asked that we stay alone in separate rooms for that first night,” Miriam explains. “We were surprised because the other girls in the compound were sharing rooms, some of which had four people in them.”

They were supposed to ‘work’ and so, had to be put in single rooms where the men ‘meet them’. In literal terms, where the rape them, even after they get pregnant. The sexual assault goes on until they are able to produce boys who are the more expensive of the two genders.

According to the report, Miriam and her cousin were freed after they produced boys, and were able to go back to the place where they were trafficked from.

This is one case among millions.

Reports of girls trafficked from places across Nigeria has become a daily phenomenon. They are most times taken to other countries like Italy and Libya, with a promise of better living conditions. The victims are often promised good jobs only to end up being exploited or enslaved.

Every other day, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) confirms reports of trafficked people and their return home. Yet, the practice continues.

NAPTIP says it is aware of high numbers of cases of human trafficking in Madinatu and is increasing efforts to address the issue in the IDP camp in particular.

“The office has now increased surveillance in the IDP camp,” Mikita Ali, head of the NAPTIP office covering the northeast region, says. “We are working with camp managers and camp officials to whom we’ve given our toll-free numbers and told to call us if they suspect any case of human trafficking.”

This is not news to the government agency, so, it is worrisome that it is just yet increasing efforts to address the issue.

See how Twitter users reacted:

If trauma were a person, it’d look like the girls of Northeast Nigeria. They fled Boko Haram, and ended up as baby-making slaves, serially raped, in Enugu. Nigeria let these girls down. |They were Survivors of Nigeria's 'baby factories' share their stories https://t.co/0s37es9etR

— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) May 4, 2020

Girls who fled BokoHaram attacks are being enslaved & raped by human traffickers who then sell their babies in Enugu

Our sisters are being enslaved & raped, yet the media is silent about it. There’s no outrage whatsoever

How can human beings be this wicked & heartless?

— Sarki. (@Waspapping_) May 4, 2020

Impressive first act of investigative reporting by @AJEnglish. Next necessary steps would be for @PoliceNG & Enugu govt to arrest suspects & ensure justice.

Survivors of Nigeria's 'baby factories' share their stories https://t.co/QLqMuTiwNf

— Obiora Chukwumba, PhD. (@ObioraChukwumba) May 4, 2020

I was reading that Enugu baby factory story with goose bumps all over .

Chai Chai make we fear God o ??

— Ogbera Damilare (@DamilareOgbera) May 4, 2020