Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Asam Asam collaborated with
the story that No fewer than 200 Nigerian girls are trafficked every month to
Russia for prostitution. Asam, who spoke against the backdrop of consular
challenges faced by the embassy, disclosed this in an interview in Berlin.
Investigations reveal that the crime had decline in Western
Europe following strict laws on illegal migration, and joint efforts by Nigeria
and the governments of those countries to curb the menace. However, attention has shifted to Eastern Europe as the new
destination for the trade.
“The major consular challenge we face in Moscow is the
influx of trafficked persons from Nigeria, not less than 200 girls are trafficked
every month, and we have so many of them exposed to danger.
“Some are thrown out of the window and treated harshly,
there must be a way of stopping these racketeering , these girls are not
tourists, students or government officials yet they are given visas from the
Russian embassy in Abuja.”
“So far we have deported over 240 girls since 2012, you will
be shocked, at the extend of resistance from the girls, we tell them Russia is
not a destination for prostitutes yet they still come” Asam said.
According to him, the mission tries to curb the menace by
arranging deportation exercise for those caught, but the challenges are
enormous.
The envoy said such intervention would be more effective at
the point of entry “the strategy is to stop them from Nigeria, and fish out
those involved in the trade.
“For instance a well known Russian human trafficker who has
been in the trade for about 20 years was caught in Nigeria,’’
“The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in
Persons( NAPTIP) was on the verge of releasing her before I filed a protest
from Moscow to the Comptroller General of Immigration,” Asama stressed.
He said even the parents of those trafficked encourage their
children
“I spoke to the mother of one of the girls and she said her
daughter should remain in Moscow and try to survive the ordeal, this is very
sad indeed coming from one’s parent.’’
He tasked the media on sensitising the public on the dangers
of trafficking in Russia,“this East European nation has become a new
destination for them, and believe me it is a very big crime here.’’
Asam, however, said that other Nigerians who reside in that
country were students, and professionals in various fields of human endeavours.
(NAN)
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