TERHEMBA-CLETUS FOUNDATION

Trafficking in children in Nigeria has been an issue since the 1960s, but public awareness only surged in the mid-1990s, notably after the deportation of trafficked individuals for prostitution to Europe and the Middle East starting in 1994. This led to a focus on trafficking as synonymous with prostitution, overshadowing other forms of labor exploitation. A common, albeit incomplete, definition of “trafficking in women” limits the understanding to young girls aged 13-18 being moved for prostitution, neglecting broader trafficking issues. Women and children, especially girls, are trafficked for various labor forms, with studies indicating that children represent the largest group of trafficking victims in Nigeria.