AN EXAMINATION OF THE DRIVERS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NORTH-WESTERN NIGERIA: INSTITUTIONAL AND CIVIL SOCIETY PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Human trafficking remains one of the most pervasive transnational crimes, undermining human dignity and security across the globe. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2023) reports that nearly 27.6 million people are trapped in situations of forced labor and exploitation worldwide, with Africa accounting for about 40 percent of detected victims. Nigeria, given its strategic position in West Africa, is both a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking, with the North-West region serving as a significant corridor due to porous borders, poverty, and persistent insecurity. This study investigates the issues promoting the human trafficking movement through North-Western Nigeria by examining perspectives from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) officials and non-governmental organizations such as WOTCLEF, Zamani Foundation, and the Child Protection Network.  The study adopted structural violence theory, using a qualitative research design; in-depth interviews were conducted with representatives of these institutions. Thematic analysis revealed that economic hardship, porous borders, weak law enforcement, cultural norms, insurgency, and lack of awareness collectively sustain trafficking dynamics in the region. NAPTIP officials emphasized structural weaknesses in law enforcement and border management, while NGO respondents highlighted poverty, broken family systems, and the failure of social safety nets as critical drivers. The study concludes that trafficking in North-Western Nigeria is perpetuated by the intersection of structural vulnerabilities and socio-economic deprivation. It recommends strengthening cross-border surveillance, expanding community awareness programs, enhancing inter-agency collaboration, and addressing root causes such as poverty and unemployment to curtail the trafficking movement.