Magajiya System and Human Trafficking in Nigeria

The Magajiya system is a special form of women trafficking widespread in Northern Nigeria, whereby the Magajiya (the restaurant and brothel matron) *recruits’ and tutors young women to provide menial and sexual services to the male patronizers for a fee. This practice is rampant in truck transit camps, specially designated local brothels, and gidajen kashe ahu ('resting/guest’ houses) in the region. Using the focus group discussion and indepth interview survey methods, this study examined the insidious nature of the ‘Yon Magajiya practice. It also investigated the dynamics of the system and the inherent social, economic and health implications of the phenomenon. Preliminary findings of the survey revealed that teenage women and their parents/guardians are lured into the business by promises of good life in the urban areas. A large percentage of these teenage women are run-aways from broken homes and failed marriages, especially forced marriages. The practice serves as reservoir, conduit and vehicle for the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS as well as visico vaginal fistula (WF) among the younger female victims.