(The harrowing story of another Nigerian victim of Human Trafficking was first published in June, 2020)
By Abu Oshiomieh
A 22 year-old girl, Precious Eric from Edo State, Nigeria, is presently out there far from her home or country, no thanks to murderous criminal gangs who prey on vulnerable young girls, who they traffic into Europe and other countries, to join in their prostitution rings.
Human parts harvesting are also rife, and other victims end their life journey in such gruesome manners.
A case of kidnappings of two siblings, Destiny and Favour Eric, being investigated by the police in Benin, Edo State, was to lead to suspicions of the alleged involvement of suspected vicious human trafficking gangs.
The killing of the Erics, investigation reveals, may not be unconnected with the activities of human traffickers who may have assisted their sister, Precious, from getting into Europe.
Precious Eric’s alleged escape from her helpers, may have led to the gruesome murder that has now befallen her brother and sister, whose decomposing bodies were discovered by men of the Edo State Police Command, in an uncompleted building, on the outskirts of the capital, Benin.
While the NAPTIP has been doing its possible best to check the nefarious activities of human traffickers in Nigeria, the damage and carnage left by them keeps rising.
For one, the human trafficking trade is doubtlessly well organized back in Nigeria, particularly Edo State, where they may have penetrated the security architecture and having paid cult boys to deal with whoever crosses their way.
While Precious may have been forced into a predicament which may have landed her in Europe, her innocent siblings in Nigeria are unfortunately no more.
While Precious, who was allegedly trafficked to Europe on promises of getting her a job as babysitter may be alive to tell her own story, not so for Destiny and Favour Eric.
Ever since, Precious Eric has remained just another number on the growing list of victims of deadly human traffickers, who will go to any length to draw their pound of flesh, including killing, from anyone considered to have violated their cruel laws.