Sahara Reporters has revealed shocking allegations from the Association of Recruiter License Placement Agents of Nigeria (ARLPAN), which has uncovered 14 human trafficking rings in Iraq operating with the alleged assistance of Nigerian Immigration officers at major airports.
ARLPAN, an association of licensed international recruiters, has sounded the alarm over the increasing activities of illegal human traffickers in Nigeria. The group identified 14 trafficking rings operating in Iraq, with their Nigerian agents exploiting vulnerable citizens and smuggling them through Abuja, Lagos, and Kano international airports. According to ARLPAN, these illicit activities are allegedly facilitated by corrupt immigration officials.
The traffickers reportedly lure unsuspecting Nigerians—many of whom are desperate for job opportunities—into Iraq, where they face grueling working conditions, sexual exploitation, forced labor, and even imprisonment. ARLPAN’s Rapid Response Team has gathered compelling evidence of abuse, mistreatment, and unethical practices by certain manpower offices in Iraq.
The association named several trafficking-linked recruitment agencies in Iraq, including:
Zho Alshrooq Co. Public Services and Recruitment
Green Trees Company
Sound of the Sea Company for Recruitment of Labour
Balad Alroya Company
Baghdad Beacon Company
Zuhoor Alsharq Company
Al Qethara Company
Rawaa Al Khabir Company for Recruitment of Manpower
Ayahdi Al-Raseenah Company
Al Qethara Company
Rawaa Al Khabir Company for Recruitment of Manpower
Ayahdi Al-Raseenah Company
Bareeq Alnoor Company
Burj Alkhaleej Company
Sawt Al Bahr Recruitment Company
Karam Al-Muatasem Company
Al-Kabir Manpower Company and Al-Sahel & Co.
ARLPAN decried how Nigerian domestic workers, often referred to as “shagala”, have become active participants in recruiting and trafficking their fellow Nigerians into Iraq. Many victims are forced to work for months without pay to “settle” their recruiters. Others are subjected to physical and sexual violence, with abusive employers treating them as disposable commodities.
Shockingly, some Nigerian supervisors in these Iraqi recruitment companies collaborate with traffickers, subjecting their fellow citizens to beatings, imprisonment, and forced abortions. ARLPAN revealed that abortion pills are being smuggled into Iraq and illegally sold to pregnant Nigerian workers, putting their lives at grave risk.
ARLPAN accused corrupt Nigerian Immigration officers of aiding and abetting these trafficking networks by accepting bribes—referred to as “boarding money”—to allow traffickers to move victims through Nigeria’s major international airports.
The group specifically mentioned EgyptAir, Qatar Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines as airlines frequently used by traffickers to transport victims out of Nigeria.
ARLPAN further highlighted the failures of regulatory agencies, lamenting that unlicensed recruiters operate with impunity while disregarding the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Convention 190, which mandates fair treatment and protection for domestic workers.
The trafficking crisis has reached alarming levels, with thousands of Nigerians stranded, enslaved, or incarcerated in Iraq. According to ARLPAN, while the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) recently reported that 5,000 Nigerians were trapped in Iraq, their own findings suggest the number could be as high as 10,000.
To combat this escalating crisis, ARLPAN has urged the Nigerian government to take immediate and decisive action, including:
Cracking down on corrupt immigration officers aiding traffickers.
Tightening border controls to prevent illegal recruitment.
Implementing mandatory pre-departure orientation programs for Nigerian workers.
Strengthening international cooperation and signing Bilateral Labour Agreements (BLAs) with destination countries.
Mandating clearance from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for all recruitment agencies.
ARLPAN also emphasized the need for effective implementation of existing legal frameworks to protect Nigerian migrant workers from exploitation and ensure safe and legal migration channels.
An anonymous official from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) denied knowledge of immigration officers’ involvement in trafficking. However, the official admitted that the revelations would trigger an internal investigation.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy for such illegal activities,” the official stated. “If our personnel are involved, we will take necessary actions. We appreciate this information and will now focus our searchlight on these locations.”
As human trafficking networks expand their operations, Nigeria’s international reputation is on the line. ARLPAN has warned that without immediate intervention, more Nigerians will fall victim to modern slavery, and the country will continue to be a hub for illegal migration and exploitation.
The Nigerian government now faces a critical test: Will it rise to the challenge and dismantle these trafficking networks, or will it allow corruption and indifference to perpetuate this human rights crisis?
PIONEER NEWS 