4,261 Nigerian female victims of trafficking voluntarily returned between  2017-2024

Between 2017 and first quarter of  2024, the International Organisation for Migration  (IOM) facilitated the voluntary return of 4,877 Victims of Trafficking (VOTs) holding Nigerian citizenship, among whom 616 (13%) were male and 4261 (87%). Women and girls constituted nearly 88% of these returnees across various age brackets. Following their return, IOM, in collaboration with key governmental entities, civil society organizations, and non-governmental actors, facilitated their reception and support.

Upon arrival, immediate assistance, including medical care for individuals with varying degrees of health conditions, and psychosocial counseling aimed at fostering emotional,social, and cognitive capacities necessary for reintegration into the community, were provided. Additionally, vulnerability screening was done during the analyzed period.

The analysis of age distributions consistently reveals

a prevalence of youth victims across all age groups of which most are females. Notably, a substantial majority of the identified victims fall within the demographic range of 18 to 39 years, encompassing nearly 90% of the total victims.

Specifically, the data emphasizes the vulnerability of individuals aged between 18 and 25 to recruitment by traffickers, highlighting their increased susceptibility.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that among the identified victims, 302 are minors, emphasizing the concerning exploitation of individuals under the age of adult reasoning. When

comparing the age of victims to the host countries, we can

see that although Libya records the highest voluntary return

of VOTs, but taking a closer look at child victims, it is pertinent to note that Mali has the highest number of child victims returned to Nigeria over the course of 7 years consistently outweighed that of adult victims.

The analysis of Victim of Trafficking Education data reveals a concerning disparity in educational backgrounds among victims. The majority of victims have completed Secondary/High School education, followed by those who finished Primary School. A notable proportion of victims have minimal or no formal education, indicating vulnerability among

individuals with lower educational attainment. Addressing these disparities necessitates tailored intervention strategies

accommodating diverse educational needs of the victims to ensure effective support and reintegration.

The data provided reveals a clear gender disproportion in reported cases of victims across various states. In several regions, notably Lagos and Edo, the number of female victims significantly outweighs that of male victims. Lagos emerges as the state with the highest total number of victims, with a striking predominance of females. Conversely, in states like Kano, there’s a noticeable flip, showcasing more male victims than females, although the overall count remains lower compared to other states. These statistics underscore the prevalent vulnerability of females to trafficking across numerous regions. Such data intricacies underline the need for targeted interventions and gender-specific support systems to address the distinct challenges faced by both male and female victims