GAHTO Founder Calls For Funding As Survivors Share Harrowing Trafficking Ordeal In West Africa

P.M.EXPRESS reports that GAHTO, founded in 2019, has carried out numerous rescue operations targeting victims of sexual and labour exploitation. Despite operating without direct government funding, the organization continues to coordinate cross-border rescue missions, often in collaboration with diplomatic and security institutions.

“My experience in this field has exposed me to the good, the bad, and the ugly,” the founder stated.

“No organization can survive without funds. To rescue, rehabilitate, and empower victims requires substantial financial resources.”

Survivors Recount Abuse in Burkina Faso

The renewed appeal comes as two Nigerian survivors, Anita, a 19-year old from River State and Saviour Aloho, a 22-yearsold from Benue State shared disturbing accounts of how they were deceived, trafficked, and forced into sexual exploitation in Burkina Faso before being rescued.

One of the survivors said she was lured with promises of legitimate work and financial gain. Instead, she was transported through Benin Republic to Burkina Faso, where her phone and belongings were confiscated. She and others were allegedly locked indoors during the day and forced out at night to engage in prostitution.

“We were told that we were going to work and come back with money,” one of them said. “When we arrived, we discovered that it was sex work. If we refused, they beat us and threatened us.”

The victims were reportedly told they must repay an alleged debt of 1.6 million Francs CFA, which is equivalent to 4million Naira said to cover transportation costs. According to them, refusal to comply resulted in torture, starvation, and confinement.

Another survivor explained that she had been promised work assisting in a shop in Lagos before being transported and eventually trafficked out of Nigeria. Communication with family members was cut off when her phone stopped working.

“They locked us in during the day. At night, they would assign us to men. If you were sick and couldn’t work, they didn’t care,” she said, adding that some victims who died were secretly buried without notifying their families.

Embassy Support and Rescue Operation

The victims were eventually rescued through GAHTO’s intervention. The successful repatriation was made possible with the support of the Nigerian Embassy in Burkina Faso. The organization expressed appreciation to Nigeria’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Ambassador Muhammad Galadima, and embassy staff for their swift response and collaboration.

GAHTO disclosed that it continues to receive distress calls daily from Nigerian girls trapped in exploitation networks across West Africa.

Poverty Identified As Root Cause:

Addressing the root causes of trafficking, the founder, Prosper K  Michael   emphasized that poverty remains the primary driver of the crime.

“Only poverty eradication can easily help in human trafficking prevention,” he said.

 “Families are struggling to feed their children, and traffickers take advantage of that desperation.”

He also urged parents to maintain close relationships with their children and monitor unusual job offers, noting that traffickers often exploit secrecy, trust, and emotional manipulation.

Call for Strategic Partnerships:

While GAHTO currently focuses largely on rescue operations, rehabilitation and reintegration are often handled by government agencies and families due to limited resources. However, the organization’s broader vision is to provide complete rehabilitation, medical care, and empowerment support for survivors.

Many rescued victims reportedly require urgent medical treatment for infections and trauma-related conditions, expenses currently borne by the NGO.

The founder called on individuals, corporate organizations, and international NGOs to partner with GAHTO to strengthen rescue missions, provide medical care, and support survivors with empowerment programmes.

In a strong warning to traffickers, he declared: “Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. No matter how long they operate, they will eventually face justice.”

As trafficking networks continue to exploit vulnerable Nigerians within and beyond the country’s borders, GAHTO reaffirmed its commitment to restoring dignity and hope to survivors while intensifying efforts to dismantle trafficking syndicates across West Africa.