200 Nigerian Girls are trafficked to Russia monthly – Ambassador says

No fewer than 200 Nigerian girls are trafficked every month to Russia for prostitution, the country’s ambassador to that country, Amb. Asam Asam, has said.

Asam, who spoke against the backdrop of consular challenges faced by the embassy, disclosed this in a chat with the Europe Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Berlin.

NAN 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 extent 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, adding that “the strategy is to stop them from Nigeria, and fish out those involved in the trade.”