The Onyedinma Foundation has issued an urgent call to action following the harrowing rescue of two teenage sisters from human traffickers at the Lagos border earlier this month.
The foundation is a leading non-governmental organisation dedicated to protecting vulnerable members of society, especially women and children, from exploitation and abuse.
Onwuka Glory, Executive Director of Onyedinma Foundation, explained that two sisters, aged 14 and 15, were trafficked from Ugwunagbo Local Government Area of Abia State in June 2026 by their own aunt, who deceived them with promises of employment as salesgirls in Lagos.
According to Onwuka, the sisters were intercepted at the Lagos border by the Nigeria Police Force as their traffickers attempted to smuggle them to Ghana. “They have since been safely reunited with their parents,” she said.
Onwuka said that the survivors said that their aunt lured them with the promise of a better life in Lagos.
“The 14-year-old survivor, a junior secondary school student, abandoned her education for the fraudulent job offer.
“The 15-year-old sister, who had previously dropped out of school at age 14 to learn garment making, also abandoned her nine-month-long tailoring apprenticeship to pursue the fake opportunity the aunt promised them.
“The sisters further revealed that their aunt took them to a native doctor, where they were forced to swear an oath not to disclose their journey to their parents.”
Onwuka said that disturbingly, the younger sister had attended a sensitisation workshop organised by the Onyedinma Foundation in 2025, which educated secondary school students in Ugwunagbo LGA on the dangers of falling victim to ‘baby factories’ and other forms of modern slavery.
“Despite this awareness, she still fell victim to the sophisticated deception of a trusted family member.
“The fact that a child who was educated about trafficking could still be trafficked by her own aunt shows how insidious and widespread this crime has become,” Onwuka said.
Speaking further, she said, “These predators exploit the trust of family bonds and the desperate hopes of vulnerable girls in rural communities. We must do more to protect our children.”
Onwuka said that following the rescue, the Onyedinma Foundation visited the family and has taken urgent steps to rehabilitate the survivors with support from the Freedom Fund.
She said that the younger sister has been re-enrolled in another school to continue her education, while the older sister has been placed in a new training centre to resume her apprenticeship in garment making.
“The Foundation noted that the family’s vulnerability was a key factor in the trafficking. The younger sister had been living with an elderly relative who suffers from health challenges and frequently travels to stay with her children, leaving the girl alone for extended periods.
“The older sister walked a long distance every day to her training centre. Their father works as a labourer, while their mother runs a petty shop in the community to support the family.”
She said that in addition to supporting the survivors, the Onyedinma Foundation has launched a livelihood intervention for the family.
“The mother has been offered training in climate-smart agriculture, specifically vegetable farming, along with startup support to establish a vegetable farm, providing the family with a sustainable source of income.
“We cannot rescue victims without addressing the root causes of trafficking: poverty, lack of supervision, and limited economic opportunities.
“We are calling on parents, community leaders, and all stakeholders to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving the movement of children.
“A job offer from a relative should never be taken at face value if it involves taking a child out of school or away from home.”
The Onyedinma Foundation further urged anyone with information about suspected human trafficking cases to contact the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) or other law enforcement agencies.
The Foundation reaffirms its commitment to combating trafficking in persons and other forms of modern slavery in Nigeria, one community at a time.
