Abstract
The most recognised and distinct dimension of the Nigerian version of human trafficking is the continuous use of voodoo to charm potential and actual trafficked persons. The use of voodoo and other control mechanisms constitutes an important aspect that aids human trafficking and enables traffickers to get illegal profit.in Nigeria and other parts of the world. Voodoo and other control mechanisms has been a fundamental lubricant of trafficking in women and girls in Nigeria for sexual exploitation. The aim of this paper is to critically examine the use of voodoo and other control mechanisms such as witchcraft, force, coercion, deception, threat, oath –taking which have consistently made human trafficking to thrive in Nigeria. This paper concluded that the use of voodoo and other control mechanisms shall continue to thrive and escalate human trafficking in Nigeria if not brought under control. This paper recommended that to eradicate the continuous use of voodoo and other control mechanisms in human trafficking by traffickers, the government should make the punishment stricter by increasing the terms of imprisonment, remove the fines in the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (TIPPEAA) 2015. If the terms of imprisonment carries higher terms of 12, 15 years to 20 years like what is obtainable in other jurisdictions like the United Kingdom under the Modern Slavery Act of 2015 and the Dutch Criminal Code 1886 in Netherlands trafficking will be reduced to the barest minimum. But if the court continues to give lower sentences like 1 year, 5 years and 7 years as stipulated under the TIPPEAA 2015 presently human trafficking shall continue to thrive and traffickers will have no fear of committing or indulging in the crime every time. The law enforcement agencies should put more effort to arrest voodoo priest/ priestess and prosecute them. NAPTIP should also make efforts to making traditional chiefs and herbalist anti-trafficking ambassadors to stem the tide of the use of voodoo and other control Mechanisms of human trafficking in Nigeria.