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RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #0213/01 0801127
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211127Z MAR 07
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8657
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 8483
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0034
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1210
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0001
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0227
RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0207
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0208
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0215

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 000213 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK 
CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR 
ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH 
SAO PAOLO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KWMN ELAB KCRM SOCI SMIG NI
SUBJECT: EDO STATE MAKES PROGRESS AGAINST TIP, BUT THE 
FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN 
 
REF: 06 LAGOS 1220 
 
LAGOS 00000213  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: A visit by Poloff with Global Trafficking 
in Persons Program Officer Amy LeMar to Edo State showed 
progress in combating trafficking in persons (TIP).  Local 
organizations have been led by Idia Renaissance, founded by 
Edo State First Lady Eki Igbinedion.  Igbinedion's anti-TIP 
campaign was initially unpopular but observers credit her 
with making significant headway against TIP.  However, with 
the departure of the Igbinedions from the Governor's mansion 
future anti-TIP activities are uncertain.  The National 
Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) 
and private organizations, which have so far been adjuncts to 
Idia, will need to take the lead.  End summary. 
 
----------------------- 
TIP from Benin to Italy 
----------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Although not the State with the largest number of 
trafficking in persons (TIP) victims in Nigeria, Edo State is 
probably the most infamous because of the involvement of many 
of its inhabitants in trafficking of young girls to Europe, 
often to Italy, for the purpose of prostitution.  The 
Italian-bound trafficking is focused on Turin.  NAPTIP 
estimated that 80 percent of internationally trafficked 
Nigerian victims are from Edo State.  Olaide Gbadamosi, from 
the Network for Justice and Democracy in Benin City, told 
Poloff the majority of TIP victims come from Edo South 
District, from the Bini peoples, economic migrants who 
traveled to Italy to find a living. 
 
¶3.  (U) Jennifer Ero of Idia Renaissance told Poloff 
trafficking to Italy began in the 1990's when women started 
traveling to Italy for prostitution.  Prostitution followed 
previous patterns established travel by businesspeople and by 
Nigerians.  Soon however, the demand for prostitution started 
to move to younger women and girls. 
 
¶4.  (U) Villagers back in Nigeria saw these girls as 
successful, and chose not to ask how the girls earned the 
money.  According to Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi of the Women's 
Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON), parents often did not ask the 
traffickers about prostitution, but instead asked the 
trafficker to take their daughter to Italy so that the family 
could have mony.  (Note: Under Nigerian law, child labor is 
legal if it is not for illicit purposes or heavy labor, and 
the work has the consent of the child and his/her parents. 
End note)  Additionally, traffickers have used traditional 
religion magic to put a hold on the victims, who, regardless 
of their faith, believe in the efficacy of the magic.  Many 
of the first women who went to Italy gained notoriety because 
some of them purchased large homes in Edo when they came back 
to Nigeria.  Michael Otunba of the Nigerian Union of 
Journalists told Poloff that in Edo, the traditional festival 
of Igwe is the local "Christmas" when all Beninese come back, 
often with flashy cars. 
 
¶5.  (U) However, for most women prostitution does not result 
in financial stability or wealth.  Olagbegi told Poloff while 
some girls became wealthy, some later fell ill and died of 
STDs or AIDS.  These women travel back to Edo and die 
quietly, Olagbegi said. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Speaking at a USG-sponsored media workshop in 
Lagos, trafficking victim Gloria told an assembled group 
about her harrowing experience.  Unable to travel by plane, 
Gloria traveled overland with 25 girls, transiting through 
Niger and Algeria before reaching Morocco, where the group 
spent a year.  In accordance with the agreement, through 
prostitution Gloria paid the madam $25,000 in eight months 
plus incidentals, all of which went directly to the madam. 
After that, the local authorities found the girls and 
deported them. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
 
LAGOS 00000213  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
Edo State First Lady Tackles the Issue... 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) Edo State First Lady Eki Igbinedion was among the 
first to tackle TIP issues.  According to Otunba, before 
Igbinedion started TIP was not publicized and was ignored as 
an issue.  Many Nigerian First Ladies have created private 
foundations, ostensibly to carry out charitable work.  While 
often the work is charitable, some of the foundations have 
been sources of controversy as opponents have criticized 
these foundations as mere conduits to gain financial 
assistance for purposes other than for which the assistance 
was granted.  However, critics and supporters have praised 
the work of the Edo State First Lady.  Gbadamosi credited the 
publicity of Idia with increasing awareness of the issue, 
which has forced traffickers to move to more remote regions 
of the State. 
 
¶8.  (U) Eki Igbinedion founded Idia Renaissance as her 
foundation to work on women's and youth issues.  Idia became 
deeply involved in anti-TIP activities.  In her first two 
years, Igbinedion encountered a lot of local resistance, said 
Otunba.  Traffickers had a lot of powerful patrons and it was 
difficult to convince these patrons that trafficking was a 
problem in Edo.  However, in the past six years Idia has 
managed to gain more headway in publicizing TIP and assisting 
victims, Otunba said. 
 
¶9. (U) Idia has taken the lead on many trafficking-related 
issues, serving as almost an extension of the Edo State 
government.  Idia has a close relationship with NAPTIP, and 
the agency has often referred its victims to Idia for 
protection services.  On Poloff's visit to Benin, Poloff 
viewed the Idia Youth Center, funded by a $300,000 grant from 
UNICEF with equipment assistance from USAID.  At the youth 
center, students gained training in tailoring, computers, and 
cooking.  The students also receive HIV/AIDS instruction. 
Ero told Poloff that thirty of the students at the Center 
were TIP victims, although their identities were kept secret. 
 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
...But Her Effort May Not Continue Past 2007 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) In a meeting with Global Trafficking in Person 
(G/TIP) Program Officer Amy LeMar and Poloff in December 
2006, Eki Igbinedion said there was still much left to do in 
Edo against trafficking.  Eight years ago, Igbinedion said, 
locals did not discuss TIP issues; she credits her own 
efforts through Idia to changing that.  However, when Poloff 
asked about Idia's future activities Igbinedion was vague, 
commenting, "We shall see what happens in 2007," referring to 
the upcoming gubernatorial election that will name a new 
governor to succeed her husband. 
 
------------------------------------- 
NGOs Poised to Lead Fight Against TIP 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶11. (U) Poloff visited the NAPTIP shelter in Benin City.  The 
shelter has a capacity of 25, and is intended for temporary 
use only.  The International Organization of Migration (IOM) 
managed the Benin City shelter before transferring control to 
NAPTIP.  Bridget Nwaka, shelter manager, told Poloff while 
Edo State donated the building and paid for the rent, the 
agreement expires in May.  The future of the shelter, 
according to Nwaka, will depend on the next government. 
 
¶12. (U) Poloff also met Sister Florence Nwaomima, who is 
planning to construct a second shelter with funding from an 
Italian Catholic group.  Nwaomima admitted she had never 
visited the NAPTIP shelter, which does similar work. 
However, Nwaomima said her shelter will provide a faith-based 
alternative to the NAPTIP one. 
 
 
LAGOS 00000213  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶13. (U) One promising initiative spans several states in the 
region.  Girls Power Initiative (GPI), located in Edo, 
Cross-River, Delta and Akwa Ibom states, is a non-profit 
organization that trains young women between 13 and 18 years 
of age as part of a three-year program.  GPI was created in 
1994 by Bene Maduaragu in Cross-River and Grace Osakwe in 
Edo.  The founders realized young women needed to know about 
the issues that affect their lives, and designed the GPI 
program.  The young women attend Saturday sessions with 
facilitators who teach empowerment, image, shared 
experiences, abstinence, and skills training.  GPI hosts an 
annual seminar on trafficking, which includes members as peer 
educators. 
 
¶14. (U) Poloff spoke in Benin City with Ehita Ikohoghode, 
Delta State coordinator for GPI.  Poloff also talked with 
several young women who were articulate spokespersons for 
GPI.  GPI largely recruits through word-of-mouth.  Graduates 
of GPI have formed the GPI Alumnae Association (GAA).  GPI 
alumnae are valuable mentors to girls under pressure to go 
abroad.  The total number of GPI graduates is small, but GPI 
also runs a one-year program for 20 outreach schools. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
NGOs Report Prosecution Poor in Edo State 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶15. (SBU) Olaide Gbadaimosi, Director of the Network of 
Justice and Democracy, said Edo State prosecuted three 
traffickers and secured one single conviction.  Gbadamosi 
said criminals go free because of the poor drafting of 
charges and the refusal of the TIP victims to testify. 
Corruption often causes cases on trafficking to end 
inconclusively, Gbadamosi commented. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶16. (SBU) Edo State's anti-trafficking campaign has made 
progress.  While trafficking remains a serious problem in the 
State, Idia and others deserve credit for raising awareness. 
With the Igbinedions soon to depart the governor's house, 
Idia may likely assume a lower profile.  It will be up to the 
next Governor to see that Edo State takes its trafficking 
problem seriously.  NAPTIP, which has been underfunded and 
neglected in Edo, will need to become assertive and work with 
the NGO community to keep anti-trafficking an important issue 
in the State.  End comment. 
BROWNE