CNN Reporter Offered Two Children for $500


The terror group Boko Haram has displaced nearly one million Nigerians as a result of its attacks and many of those affected are children from local communities in the northern part of the country.. Refugee camps are rapidly filling, leaving many displaced to seek refuge in unofficial camps. According to CNN, it is very easy to purchase these displaced children. CNN reporter, Nima Elbagir and her team were offered two displaced children from a camp for $500.

 

US State Department’s 2014 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report said Boko Haram abducts and recruits child soldiers as part of its terror activities. Many of these child soldiers are as young as 12 years old. Boko Haram has also used children as suicide bombers. In northern Nigeria, its members abduct girls and women for sex trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude. However, Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) has been making significant efforts to fight human trafficking. An earlier Imprisoned Show found that the Lagos chapter of NAPTIP rescued 568 victims between 2013 and 2014. You can read the report via this link. (http://www.imprisonedshow.com/2015/01/12/lagos-naptip-rescues-568-victims/).

 

Elbagir was put in contact with a leader at an unofficial displaced children’s camp, and her team asked if he had children available to “foster.” According to CNN, “foster” is a coded word for purchase. The man quickly showed Elbagir’s colleague a group of children, asking how many he wanted.  He declined purchase, saying he needed to speak with Elbagir.

 

Elbagir was in contact with the trafficker, who said he did not need money from her. “Sister, Jesus will reward me,” he said. He asked for a donation to the camp, if she could “find it in her heart.” He also said there was no need to fill out any paperwork.

 

When the two met, he first offered a three year old. He suggested purchasing an older girl as well, to take after her younger counterpart. A 12 year old was pointed out for this purpose.

 

Their last exchange was related to her donation. After bargaining, the trafficker said $500 would be an acceptable price.

 

CNN reported its findings to NAPTIP, Nigeria’s human trafficking task force.

 

Read the CNN report here: http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/23/africa/nigeria-children-for-sale/.

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