ABUJA — Survivors of a major human trafficking syndicate have shared harrowing accounts of how deceptive online job advertisements and promises of lucrative employment in West Africa turned into forced sex slavery, confinement, and severe abuse in Côte d'Ivoire.

The victims, predominantly young Nigerian women, disclosed that they were approached by recruiters promising jobs in hospitality, retail, and domestic services abroad. However, upon arrival in Abidjan and surrounding towns, their travel documents were confiscated, and they were forced into commercial sex work under threat of violence.

Anti-trafficking agencies, including the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), have intensified joint cross-border operations with Ivorian security forces to rescue remaining victims, apprehend syndicate members, and dismantle the regional trafficking rings.

Scammers relied heavily on social media platforms and local agents to advertise fictitious jobs with attractive pay packages, convincing unsuspecting job seekers to travel across borders without proper employment verification.

Upon arrival at their destination, victims were stripped of their passports, held in secret locations, and subjected to physical violence, psychological intimidation, and forced labor to clear inflated, fake transit debts imposed by their captors.

Through coordinated intelligence sharing between Nigerian anti-trafficking officials, international law enforcement agencies, and local NGOs, several victims were rescued, repatriated, and provided with medical care, trauma counseling, and vocational support.