Six Sierra Leonean girls, who were ensnared by human traffickers promising employment in Dakar, have safely returned home. Their journey, marred by deceit and the sinister intent of prostitution, concluded with their repatriation, offering a beacon of hope against the pervasive issue of human trafficking.Details:
In October 2023, the girls, aged between 14 and 22 and all relatives, were lured by their aunt in Dakar under the false pretense of employment in a restaurant specializing in Sierra Leonean cuisine. The deceptive promises shattered when the grim reality of forced prostitution emerged.
At the Sierra Leone Embassy in Dakar, a solemn atmosphere prevailed as Ambassador Alhaji Brima Elvis Koroma counseled the girls and issued a stern warning to traffickers. He affirmed the Embassy’s commitment to collaboration with law enforcement in Senegal to apprehend and prosecute those responsible.
Experiencing a mix of anxiety and liberation, the girls, flying for the first time, arrived at Blaise Diang International Airport. Their ordeal began when their aunt, Hafsatu Leigh, deceived them, introducing them to elderly women as their ‘madams.’ The girls managed to escape and sought refuge at the Sierra Leone Embassy on October 19, 2023, with the help of another Sierra Leonean.
The prompt reporting of the case to relevant authorities, collaboration within the Sierra Leonean community, and the involvement of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) culminated in the successful repatriation of the girls on February 2024. Ambassador Koroma urged the returned victims to share their experience, becoming advocates against illegitimate job offers abroad and discouraging their peers from falling prey to similar schemes.
Credit: Ishmael Bayoh-Information Attachè- Sierra Leone Embassy Dakar, Senegal +221775996486
