A survivor of human trafficking, Piana Shua Kimari, has recounted how she was taken to a native doctor in Edo State and subjected to traditional rituals before being trafficked out of Nigeria at the age of 15.
Kimari shared her experience during an interview on the Clarity Zone Podcast on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, while narrating how a trafficking network recruited her and transported her out of the country.
According to her, the preparations began in Ekpoma, Edo State, where she and other girls were taken to a native doctor before their departure.
She said the process involved shaving their body hair, including their armpits, private parts and heads.
Recounting the experience, Kimari said: “Before we left Ekpoma in Edo State, they took us to a powerful native doctor. They shaved our armpits, private parts, and head hair.”
How Kimari Was Recruited Into Human Trafficking
Kimari explained that she was lured into travelling abroad with promises of learning hairdressing and securing a better future for her family.
However, she said she later discovered that she had been handed over to human traffickers.
Her account describes how the recruitment process began in Edo State before she was moved through other locations as part of the trafficking network’s operations.
Journey Through West Africa to Mali
According to Kimari, the journey began in Edo State and continued through Lagos before she and other girls crossed the Seme border.
They were subsequently transported through several West African countries to Mali, where she said they were sold into sexual exploitation.
Her account highlights the experiences she says she endured as a teenager after being deceived with promises of overseas training and better opportunities.
Kimari’s testimony also draws attention to the methods traffickers may use to recruit vulnerable young people, including promises of employment, education and financial support for their families.
