Channel 4’s Unreported World went deep into the southern part of Nigeria to expose an ongoing trend of human trafficking which has been hidden underneath filthy blankets for many years. In the episode titled “Sex, Lies and Black Magic” we watch as a young girl, Vivian Peter, is prepared for her journey into Sex Slavery. As it is not so obvious to her what is about to become of her, with fingers crossed, we hope that she would be overwhelmed with the stench exuding from the fishiness of the process used to prepare her for the adventure ahead.
Watching as Vivian is being made to take an oath in a black magic ritual, she is being made to swear her life into paying her sponsor- who provides what is needed for her trip and stay in Italy, Vivian’s dreamland. It is no surprise how compelled Vivian is to do this, by looking at her surroundings; it is quite blatant her state of poverty has subjected her to find a better life in Europe. However, what does surprise me is the fact that Channel 4’s reporter, Jenny Kleeman, made a considerable attempt in changing our subject’s mind from making this life-changing-for-the-worse decision (Jenny was nearly moved to tears as she was telling Vivian to rethink) still, Vivian seemed adamant and sure that she would slip through the net.
You may be quick to think that Vivian is unwise or blinded, but being sworn under a seemingly powerful oath, she believes there is no turning back unless she is willing to face an untimely and painful death.
Vivian’s fantasy trip to Europe did happen. Adding another twist to the string circling her neck is the fact that her beloved boyfriend was her pimp- hooking her up with "sister" who recruits other women to work for her. We are left to speculate if Vivian had a clue that her story is unlikely to end happily.
Not many girls were given the opportunity to change their minds about embarking on this journey into a private hell. In fact, many like Vivian were told the age-old tale that you could find everything you ever wanted in Europe- Money, Love, and Happiness. So many have gone, only to be captured into the depraved world of Sex Slavery. Many in Vivian’s situation are being made to service over 10 men a day in order to make fast money to pay back their sponsors and others are just being forced for no cause.
In addition, they have their passports seized to prevent them running back home, thus hindering them from looking for legitimate jobs. They all seek freedom, however the less fortunate are haunted by the fatal consequences of breaking their oaths which forces them into staying as a sex slave.
But there is hope.
The A21 campaign, founded by evangelist and motivational speaker Christine Caine in 2008, has dedicated its existence to “Abolishing injustice in the 21st century”. Christine was moved to do something about the dreadful world when she was troubled by the number of missing girls and women she had seen on posters pasted in the airport in Thessaloniki, Greece. Now, it provides shelters and transition houses for those who have been rescued from this modern slavery and helps to prevent others from being trapped. The A21 campaign also has a list of 21 ways you can help which have encouraged many to form movements and campaigns against trafficking.
Human trafficking is still very much happening and it takes different forms. The first way to stop it is through acts of increasing awareness about it- speaking, singing, writing- just like I have done, or any way that suits you best.
You could be someone’s chance to freedom.
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Here is a link to the A21 website: http://www.thea21campaign.org/
Follow on twitter: @TheA21Campaign
For more insight, check out Channel 4’s Unreported World about Human trafficking episode:
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