YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon – As violence continues in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, a disturbing but less visible crisis has emerged — human trafficking. Thousands of vulnerable citizens, especially from the conflict-hit North West and South West, are falling prey to trafficking rings that lure them with false promises of jobs and wealth abroad.
The Justice and Peace Commission*of the Catholic Diocese of Kumbo has raised alarm over the growing trend. According to Lukong Isidore Njodzeven, the deputy diocesan coordinator, at least 3,000 Cameroonians have been trafficked into Nigeria, with many now trapped in brutal conditions.
“We worked with a Nigerian pastor who helped confirm that victims, mainly from the conflict zones, were tricked and trafficked,” Njodzeven said.
He explained that traffickers often present Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Niger as destination countries with great job prospects. However, victims usually end up in Nigeria, facing forced labor, exploitation, and abuse.
“Some families, out of desperation, even sell their properties to send their children abroad,” Njodzeven said. “But the journey ends in heartbreak. Once trafficked, victims lose their passports, phones, and freedom.”
The economic hardship caused by the Anglophone conflict plays a significant role. A 2023 IOM report revealed that a 1% rise in unemployment could lead to a 0.5% increase in human trafficking cases — a pattern now evident in Cameroon.
Children and women are the most vulnerable. With UNICEF reporting over 800,000 children out of school, many are now targets for traffickers who exploit their lack of options.
Yvonne Fonka, Gender-Based Violence Focal Point at the Justice and Peace Commission, emphasized that many victims remain silent out of fear, stigma, and shame.
“When a family spends everything to send someone abroad, the pressure to succeed is intense,” she said. “If they return abused and empty-handed, they often hide the truth.”
Trafficking is now a multi-billion-dollar industry. According to the International Labor Organization, $172.6 billion is generated annually through forced sexual exploitation. The UN estimates 49.6 million people are currently held in modern slavery, including 12 million children.
Despite awareness efforts, Fonka warned that many traffickers are linked to powerful networks within society, making the fight against trafficking even more difficult.
“These are not just statistics. These are human lives destroyed by exploitation,” she added.
As the Anglophone crisis drags on, experts warn that without urgent intervention, the trafficking trend will only grow, further deepening the humanitarian crisis in the region.
