Nigerian Embassy and Senegalese NGO Collaborate in Rescuing Nigerian Girls from Sexual Exploitation

The Nigerian Embassy, in collaboration with a Senegalese NGO, has rescued 24 Nigerian girls from sexual exploitation in the Tamaccounda and Kedougou regions of Senegal.Salihu Abubakar, the acting Ambassador of the Nigerian Embassy in Dakar, reported this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday. He stated that the girls, mostly aged 11, 13, and 24, were trafficked through Cotonou, Benin, and Mali to Senegal for prostitution.

Preliminary investigations revealed that most of the girls were school dropouts from Edo and Delta states, with a few from Imo, Abia, and two from Plateau. Out of the 24 girls, 22 were repatriated a few weeks ago, and the remaining two returned to Nigeria safely on Saturday.

Abubakar noted that the health status of the victims and the duration of their exploitation in Senegal were not immediately available. He emphasized that the successful rescue and repatriation of these girls highlight the strong international cooperation between the Nigerian Embassy and the NGO "Free the Slaves" (La Lumiere).

The act of trafficking girl children and youths for slavery and sexual exploits is a grievous offense and the perpetrators of this act should be severely dealt with.

We should work together to stop this inhumane act of trading our girls for slavery and prostitution anywhere in the world.

Report to the relevant authorities if you notice any suspicious acts. Save the girl child!

Source: PUNCH