VZCZCXRO6423
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #0193/01 0741355
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151355Z MAR 07
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8630
INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 8454
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0100
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1203
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0014
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000193 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W 
STATE FOR AF/RA 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
STATE FOR G/TIP 
STATE FOR H 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM ELAB PHUM SOCI KWMN CODEL NI
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN CHRISTOPHER SMITH REVIEWS NATIONAL ANTI-TIP 
EFFORTS IN NIGERIA 
 
REF: 05 LAGOS 1955 
 
LAGOS 00000193  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  Nigeria Trafficking in Persons (TIP) experts told 
Congressman Christopher Smith during his February 20-22 visit to 
Abuja that Nigeria's anti-TIP network does not include the military. 
 Victims' lack of marketable skills, parents' ignorance of the 
dangers of trafficking, cultural values, and the power of 
traditional religion to sway some young girls, are barriers to 
reducing Nigeria's trafficking problem.  End Summary. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
Discussion of TIP Issues with the Ambassador 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) On February 21 at a luncheon hosted by the Ambassador, 
Congressman Christopher Smith discussed trafficking in persons (TIP) 
with Italian Ambassador Massimo Baistrocchi, National Agency for 
Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) 
Chief Executive Carol Ndaguba, American Bar Association (ABA) 
Country Director Reed Slack, and International Narcotics and Law 
Enforcement (INL) Officer Robert Downey. 
 
¶3. (U) The Congressman told the group he has asked the Department of 
Defense (DOD) to get involved on TIP issues, arguing trafficking 
constitutes a health issue for DOD.  Congressman Smith noted the DOD 
developed a set of "best practices" on TIP and asked if the Nigerian 
military has done the same.  Congressman Smith said he had observed 
that Nigerians trafficked to Italy are very frightened of 
traditional religion and oaths made pursuant thereto, which are used 
by traffickers to intimidate victims into submission and silence. 
Congressman Smith also asked the group to discuss victim 
rehabilitation programs, and whether churches are integrated into 
the TIP network. 
 
¶4. (U) The Ambassador told Congressman Smith that he will seek more 
information about DOD best practices from the Embassy's Defense 
Attache.  The Ambassador promised to bring up the subject of 
trafficking with his Nigerian military contacts.  In Nigeria TIP is 
not only sexual but derived largely from the need for cheap labor, 
the Ambassador told the Congressman.  Rehabilitation has come in the 
form of vocational training, usually sewing or hairdressing skills. 
 
¶5. (U) On rehabilitation the Italian government gave a medal to 
Nigerian artist Nike Ogundaye-Davies for her work in rehabilitating 
trafficking victims once they returned to Nigeria, the Italian 
Ambassador told the Congressman.  Through her Nike Art Centre, 
Ogundaye has established a training program to enable victims to 
develop their skills and ability to earn livings as artists. 
 
¶6. (U) Reed Slack of the ABA said that one largely unexplored 
problem is the need to reduce the demand for trafficking.  Slack 
mentioned that many female TIP victims need training to avoid going 
back into prostitution; however, most victims do not have marketable 
skills. 
 
¶7. (U) Downey said that according to a NAPTIP study, the three 
largest sources of returnees to Nigeria for trafficking are Italy, 
Spain and Libya. 
 
¶8. (U) Ndaguba said NAPTIP has worked to reduce the demand side, but 
more needs to be done.  NAPTIP conducted a sensitization visit to 
Abeokuta, where NAPTIP officials are working with locals employing 
Beninese children on farms.  One of the problems NAPTIP faces is 
making parents more aware of the dangers of trafficking.  According 
to Ndaguba, the view of Nigerian parents with large families it is 
acceptable to sacrifice one child for work or prostitution in order 
to support the rest of the family. 
 
¶9. (U) Ndaguba said traditional religion is just one of the many 
deception tactics traffickers use to trick their victims. 
Traditional religion priests operate separately from the trafficking 
network, but are often hired by traffickers to intimidate victims 
for a small fee.  Ndaguba believes these priests work, not for 
financial gain, but for power.  Regardless of the motivation of the 
priests, many victims are frightened by the incantations and 
threats. 
 
¶10. (U) Ndaguba said churches are included in the anti-trafficking 
network, which also includes the police, Nigerian Immigration 
Service (NIS), local government, traditional rulers, and 
nongovernmental organizations.  Ndaguba said a USAID initiative 
helped NAPTIP form the anti-trafficking network in 2004.  However, 
 
LAGOS 00000193  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Ndaguba said the military was not involved and has not had TIP 
sensitization training. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
NAPTIP Discusses Prosecution Efforts and Trafficking 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶11. (U) On February 22 Congressman Smith visited the NAPTIP offices. 
 The Congressman noted that his purpose was to better understand 
NAPTIP efforts and see where the US Government (USG) could assist. 
At NAPTIP Congressman Smith met Ndaguba and U.S. Haruna, NAPTIP 
Director of Legal Affairs and Prosecution.  Congressman Smith said 
Sister Eugenia in Rome told him about the problem of Nigerians being 
trafficked to Italy. 
 
¶12. (U) Haruna overviewed NAPTIP efforts to prosecute traffickers. 
In 2006 NAPTIP took 17 cases to trial and obtained 3 convictions. 
Haruna said NAPTIP had to gauge the willingness and ability of 
victims to testify against their traffickers.  Usually very young, 
the victims are often too traumatized and too frightened to testify, 
Haruna said. 
 
¶13. (U) Haruna said there was a wide gap between investigated cases 
and prosecutions.  While NAPTIP investigated 81 cases last year, 
this only resulted in 3 convictions.  Most major traffickers do not 
reside in Nigeria and NAPTIP could only prosecute lower level 
players.  Haruna said the courts were slow in prosecuting cases as 
the judges look at the law and find it difficult to determine that 
trafficking was actually involved.  Often presumed TIP cases turn 
out to be child labor, and under Nigerian law this does not 
constitute trafficking, Haruna said.  For example, in the highly 
publicized case of 40 children found in a truck outside Lagos, 
NAPTIP determined the case was not trafficking.  The woman 
facilitating the trafficking had the consent of the parents and the 
children told NAPTIP they were not being exploited.  (Comment: This 
represents a significant loophole in the law.  A case could have 
elements of both trafficking and unfair labor practices.  End 
comment) 
 
¶14. (U) Haruna said immigration authorities and police sometimes did 
not understand the difference between migration and trafficking. 
Haruna said the police were not so much complicit in trafficking as 
ignorant of what constituted trafficking.  Often immigration 
authorities saw trafficking cases as helping someone cross the 
border.  However, Haruna said NAPTIP's work with the police and 
immigration authorities had sensitized them to report instances of 
trafficking. 
 
¶15. (U) Ndaguba cited a 2002 UNICEF report which said approximately 
15 million children are working in Nigeria.  Of this number 40 
percent were trafficked, and 92 percent were between 10-18 years 
old.  Haruna said Nigerian officials found 749 young girls involved 
in prostitution in Italy, although UNICEF estimated tens of 
thousands.  According to Haruna, the Nigerian Embassy in Rome has 
worked closely with Italian authorities on the trafficking problem. 
 
¶16. (U) Haruna said the numbers from UNICEF are often unreliable 
because they were based on police estimates and not on Nigerian law. 
 Haruna said under Nigerian law trafficking only takes place if done 
against the victim's consent, regardless of age. 
 
------------------------------------ 
Visit to Trafficking Database Center 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶17. (U) Congressman Smith visited the area where the new 
computerized trafficking database will be housed.  NAPTIP 
programmers have been working with the ABA to create a national 
trafficking database available for law enforcement officials.  USAID 
donated the computer equipment.  However, the database center is not 
yet in operation.  The Congressman asked the programmers to make a 
list of the most pressing needs and he would see how the USG can 
assist this project. 
 
¶18.  (U) Congressman Smith cleared this cable. 
 
BROWNE