Victimology and Forensic Profiling of Human Trafficking Survivors in South West Nigeria

Victimological analysis of human trafficking survivors provides forensic investigators with evidence-based frameworks for victim identification, corroborative testimony assessment, and perpetrator profiling. This study develops a forensic victimological profile of human trafficking survivors in South West Nigeria through empirical analysis of cases managed by NAPTIP and affiliated civil society organisations between 2019 and 2024. A mixed-methods empirical design was employed, drawing on structured case data from 200 survivor files, standardised trauma and vulnerability assessments administered to forty-five consenting survivors, and interviews with eighteen NAPTIP case officers and forensic psychologists. The study examines survivor demographic profiles, recruitment and control mechanisms, physical and psychological injury patterns, and the utility of survivor testimony in prosecution. Findings reveal that domestic servitude and sexual exploitation were the predominant trafficking purposes, accounting for eighty-two percent of reviewed cases. Recruitment through false promises of employment was the dominant method, with social media playing an increasing role in recruitment since 2021. Forensic psychological assessment identified complex trauma presentations in ninety-one percent of assessed survivors, raising important implications for the credibility and reliability of survivor testimony. Recommendations include the development of trauma-informed forensic interview protocols for trafficking survivors, the integration of forensic psychology services into NAPTIP's response infrastructure, and the establishment of survivor-specific legal support units. Keywords: victimology, human trafficking, forensic profiling, NAPTIP, South West Nigeria.