Foundation praises Police for rescuing Abia sisters from traffickers in Lagos

The Onyedinma Foundation, a leading non-governmental organisation dedicated to protecting vulnerable members of the society, has issued an urgent call to action following the harrowing rescue of two teenage sisters from human traffickers recently at the Lagos border.

The two sisters, aged 14 and 15, were trafficked from Ugwunagbo Local Government Area of AbIa State, in June 2026, by their aunt, who deceived them with promises of employment, as sales girls in Lagos.

The sisters were intercepted at the Lagos border, by the Nigeria Police, as their traffickers attempted to smuggle them to Ghana, before they were rescued and safely reunited with their parents.

According to the survivors, 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, while the15-year-old sister, who had previously dropped out of school at age 14 to learn dress 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.

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 factory’ 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 aunt, shows how insidious and widespread this crime has become,” said Glory Onwuka, Executive Director, Onyedinma Foundation.

“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.”

Following the rescue, the Onyedinma Foundation visited the family and has taken urgent steps to rehabilitate the survivors with support from the Freedom Fund.

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 challenge 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 center. Their father works as a labourer, while their mother runs a petty shop in the community to support the family.

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,” the Executive Director added.

The Foundation called on parents, community leaders, and all stakeholders to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving the movement of children, noting that 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 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, while reaffirming its commitment to combating trafficking in persons and other forms of modern slavery in Nigeria, one community at a time.

Onyedinma Foundation is a youth- and women-led Nigerian non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering girls, women, foster care children, and other vulnerable people, especially in rural communities, to promote inclusion and combat all forms of modern slavery.