A deaf Nigerian girl trafficked from Cross River State to Côte d’Ivoire in 2025 remains missing, despite the rescue of two other girls taken with her, relatives and community sources say.
The girl, identified as Cynthia, was one of three children abducted from Ebo village in Yala Local Government Area and transported out of the country by traffickers. The other two have since been located and returned, but Cynthia has not been heard from since she reportedly sought help from security officials in Côte d’Ivoire after enduring hardship in captivity.
According to accounts from fellow victims, Cynthia — described as having limited speech ability — was forced into the trafficking network along with the others, who were initially taken through multiple states in Nigeria before being moved across the border. One of the rescued girls said the victims were then made to work under harsh conditions before Cynthia reached out to authorities abroad, and was last seen shortly thereafter.
Cynthia’s elderly mother, Ochuole, said she has been searching for her daughter since she disappeared, unaware of the abduction until information from rescued girls surfaced. Trafficking agents allegedly responsible, including a man named Odey Ikogor, have fled and remain at large.
Human trafficking experts and local advocates warn that cases like Cynthia’s are part of a broader trend of Nigerian youths being lured or snatched and taken abroad for forced labour and exploitation. Authorities have been urged to intensify cross-border cooperation and victim recovery efforts.
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