Exploring the Material Bases for Outmigration and Human Trafficking in the Farming Communities of Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The perception of human trafficking among selected rural-farming households, analysis of data obtained from 120 heads of farming households using descriptive statistics and 5-point Likert-type scale indicate that the probability of exposure to human trafficking is not gender-selective. About 77.5% of the respondents claimed to have out-migrants in their household, more than half (54.2%) of which were in the age range 10-20 years at the time of move. Major reasons for this push include : lack of employment opportunities (mean score=4.6 out of 5), lack of better social services and amenities (mean = 4.5 out of 5) and unequal access to better education (mean=4.4 out of 5) while high wage and income difference in working destination (mean=4.2 out of 5) was a major pull factor. This study found that most of the victims get into agents’ hands as a result of taking decision to search for employment opportunities, better social services and amenities and furtherance of education in intended destination.