Benue State University, Makurdi

Human Trafficking and Nigeria’s Development: An Examination of the Benin Metropolis, Edo State, Nigeria

Roland Aghahiusi UKHUREBOR

Abstract

The study investigated the causes, effects and remedies of human trafficking in Benin metropolis of Edo State with particular respect to trafficking in young girls and women outside the shores of Nigeria for sexual exploitation and how human trafficking has impacted on the development of Nigeria. The research design was anchored on case study with a descriptive approach. The population of the study was drawn from victims of human trafficking sent intermittently to NAPTIP’s shelter, Officials of the anti-trafficking agencies of government and non– governmental organizations within the Benin metropolis with a sample size of 116 (one hundred and sixteen) respondents who were purposively selected for the study. Two different types of qualitative research methods were used to generate data for this study being a qualitative one were the key informant interview of victims and in-depth interview of officials of the antitrafficking agencies. The data were content analysed; verbatim quotations were employed to illustrate issues discussed during interview sessions. The main findings of the study among others established socio-economic and socio-cultural factors as the main factors affecting victims of human trafficking which makes young girls and women vulnerable to trafficking. The study recommends among others that the government of Edo State and Nigeria by extension should make serious efforts towards addressing poverty in the land by embarking upon massive job creation, aggressive and sustainable public enlightenment and education campaigns, as well as empowerment of the jobless and vulnerable persons in the society.

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