Pregnant 17-year-old Nigerian escapes forced prostitution in Dakar, alleged traffickers arrested
A 17-year-old pregnant Nigerian orphan reportedly escaped a human trafficking and forced prostitution network in Senegal and filed a complaint with authorities. She was allegedly recruited in Nigeria under the promise of a decent job, then transported to Thiès and later to Dakar. Upon arrival, she was reportedly forced into prostitution and subjected to a fictitious debt of 3 million CFA francs, presented as the cost of her journey. Her documents were also confiscated, and she claims to have suffered violence and near-sequestration. She managed to flee and report her alleged exploiters. This case is similar to others involving young Nigerian women in Senegal, who are often lured by job promises, particularly in catering, before being forced into prostitution and made to repay imposed debts under threat. In this current case, the Ngor Gendarmerie referred P. Ch. Ogbonna, a Nigerian national, to the prosecutor's office for alleged human trafficking, pimping, and endangering the lives of others. The accused reportedly admitted to some of the facts but claimed to have been a victim of the network herself. Similar cases have also been reported in other regions of Senegal, such as Kédougou, where another Nigerian national was referred for association with criminals and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
