…as Edo, Kano, Yobe, Katsina tops list of illegal migrants
Stakeholders in local and global migration have urged women and girls to be wary of juicy travelling offers as more female have been migrated illegally in recent years compared to pre-COVID period.
According to data provided by an IOM Awareness Raising Programme Officer, Cyprine Cheptepkeny, during a media training session on Amplifying Women’s Voices in Migration Decision Making held in Lagos, between 2017 to 2020, majority of migration was by men, 56 percent while the women were only 44%. However, after COVID, it has become 50 percent each.
In her explanation, many women and girls who migrate were from Edo, Kano, Yobe and Katsina states and are illegally migrated to Libya, Mali, Niger republic, Lebanon, Chad, Morocco, Europe, Germany and other places.
The IOM officer noted that many girls are being promised jobs outside the country by both acquaintance and some are through the social media space. Upon getting to their destination, reality dawn on them and they want to return home.
Between 2017 to now, a total of 34,694 stranded Nigerian migrants have been assisted in returning home through the collaborative efforts of the Federal Government and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Out of these returnees, 19,579 were male and 15,115 were female. They were evacuated from various countries, including Libya, Chad, Morocco, Mali, Germany, Netherlands, and Ghana.
Of the returnees, 28,204 have been successfully reintegrated, with 16,264 being male and 11,940 being female. Reintegration involved providing support, such as vocational education and training, to help them start income-generating activities.
Cheptepkeny noted women now represent a substantial portion of migrants, with 45 per cent embarking on these journeys independently. However, behind these statistics lies profound challenges that women migrants encounter, rendering them particularly vulnerable to exploitation and harm.
In her advice to women and girls, Ijeoma Ifeobu of the National Commission for Refugees migrants and internally displaced persons (NCFRMI) said, “If someone tells you they will get you an international Passport without you going for capturing, beware, that is a red flag.”
She hinted of the creation of migration clubs in many secondary schools across Lagos States to further enlighten the young ones about dangers associated with illegal migration.
The head of the Migration Resource Centre, Maureen Ovie, highlighted that 45 per cent of women travel independently, with this trend expected to rise. However, she cautioned that many women lack proper information about migration processes, leading to exploitation.
Ovie emphasised the importance of government intervention in increasing awareness, providing counselling, and creating gender-responsive environments. Initiatives such as fair recruitment practices and monitoring of private agencies are crucial steps towards combating human trafficking and ensuring the safety of migrants.
The Executive Director, Girls Inspired Development Network (GIDN), Mrs Rita Folawewo, raised an alarm over how girls are being trafficked “every time.” She stressed the need for further grassroots advocacy and awareness to equip parents and guardians with requisite information that would assist their migration plans.
