News
10 Countries Where Slavery Still Exists

Despite the fact that slavery is illegal in most parts of the world, modern slavery is still a major trend in some countries due to various reasons like weak laws, corruption and even unwillingness of the security agencies to execute their jobs right.
These inhumane acts of modern slavery happen in various ways, such as forced labor, human trafficking, forced marriage, debt bondage and child slavery.
There has been a move to eradicate modern slavery by 2030 all over the world by the International Labour Organization.
These are 10 countries that slavery or modern slavery practices are still reported to be a significant issue according to ‘Global Slavery Index’:
India
India is a country with diverse cultures unique to the indigenous people of India some of these cultures support forced marriages and often leads to the law turning a blind eye. India is the nation with the highest number of modern slaves in the world. These acts of slavery occur through forced marriages, bonded labour due to the high rate of poverty and also child trafficking.
READ ALSO: US Tariffs To Hit All Countries, Says Trump
China
China is known as an industrious country and the use of exploitative job opportunities for migrants is not scarce. China also has the issue of forced labour, woman and children trafficking for sexual exploitation.
North Korea
North Korea has the highest percentage of enslaved people relative to it population with 2,696,000 slaves and approximately 26 million people as at 2024. North Korea practices compulsory military service, and state-imposed slave labour ranking third on the list.
Pakistan
Pakistan’s major issue is the outbreak of bonded labour. People are forced to pay off small loans through hard labour for a prolonged period of time. Poor families in Pakistan are often unable to pay back debts and this leads to women being forced into prostitution while children are used as domestic workers or beggars.
READ ALSO: African Countries Affected By Trump’s Tariffs [Full List]
Russia
The use of Asian migrants for forced labour is a major issue in Russia and this has resulted in the skyrocketing of forced labour in Russia. Migrants could sometimes lose their passports to Russian officials to prevent them from escaping.
Indonesia
Indonesia battles with a high rate of child labour. Farming and fishing are the two major areas that are of high demand for child and forced labour.
Nigeria
Forced marriages is not uncommon in Nigeria, same applies to human trafficking and child labour. Women and children are trafficked out of the country to become sex workers.
Turkey
Turkey has the issue of child labour, sexual exploitation and even migrant worker exploitation. The nation is a hotspot for refugee migrants who could fall into the hands of predators looking to exploit them
Bangladesh
The garment industry in Bangladesh is a major source of revenue and the rigorous nature of production entails workers and sometimes children toiling for hours in sweatshops
United States
The United States has a major issue with human trafficking, Migrant workers exploitation and even sex trafficking, migrants especially those without legal status, are often exploited in the agricultural and construction sectors.
Source: Vanguard
News
Court Bars CCETC From Entering Ossiomo Land, Using Its Property
An Edo State High Court in Benin has restrained Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Company Limited (CCETC) from entering the land of Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company
Limited pending the hearing and determination of motion of notice.
Hon. Justice Mary Itsueli—vacation judge, gave the restraining order in an ex-perte motion filed before the Honourable Court by Emmanuel Usoh, counsel to Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company
Limited.
In the suit marked: B/242/2025, Ossiomo Investment Limited, Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company
Limited, Ossiomo Offsites and Utility Limited, Quadrant Gas Development Company Limited are the claimants while Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Company Limited (CCETC) stands as defendant.
Usoh had, on behalf of Ossiomo Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company
Limited, approached the court, sought an interim injunction restraining CCETC from gaining access to the land or utilising any property belonging to the claimant.
READ ALSO:Ossiomo Restores Power To Customers After Barely Two Weeks Outage
Usoh sought an interim order restraining “the Defendant whether by itself, agents, representatives, Directors, staff, privies assigns, or anyone directly or otherwise and howsoever described from parading itself as a member or a shareholder of the 2nd Claimant or relying o using the Joint Venture Agreement pending the hearing and determination o the Motion on Notice.”
In the enrollment of order dated September 11, 2025, Justice Itsueli, said having “given a most careful consideration to the application, supporting affidavit and annexures, I am minded to grant the interim order of injunction.”
The vacation judge, therefore, ordered that, “The Defendant whether by itself, privies, assigns and anyone directly or otherwise and howsoever described are restrained from accessing, utilizing the infrastructure of the Claimants including the 33KVA lines, gas engines and gas infrastructure built by the Claimants to supply gas to the power plant and generate electricity supply whether by bulk sales or transmission to corporate entities or individuals in Edo State pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed.”
Hon. Itsueli also ordered “the Defendant whether by itself, agents, representatives, Directors, staff, privies, assigns, or anyone directly or otherwise and howsoever described are restrained from parading themselves member or shareholder of the 2nd Claimant or relying or using the Joint Venture Agreement pending the pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed.”
READ ALSO:Ossiomo, Chinese Impasse: This Is Our Story — Management
Recall that Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company
Limited and CCETC have been in ownership tussle which led to the power plant being shut down on September 1, 2025.
Speaking during a press briefing on the latest in the power tussle between Ossiomo and its investment partners, Usoh said, CCETC, having aware of the restraining order, had so far approached the arbitrary panel in Singapore.
He said: “CCETC, being aware of the restraining order, also immediately approached the arbitrary panel for arbitration in Singapore. The rationale behind this update is for the whole world to know that Singapore, being the seat of economics arbitration globally, is aware of the issues happening between Ossiomo and CCETC. We had the opportunity of seeing the copy of the arbitration, and we are replying accordingly.”
On Ossiomo and Edo State Government, Usoh disclosed: “Our relationship with the Edo State Government is what we call Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Ossiomo develops power and sells to Edo State Government at market value. They are our landlord, we cannot owe grudge against the government. My appeal to the government is to do business with us so that everyone in Edo will benefit.”
News
IPF Celebrates Otuaro On His Birthday Anniversary
The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has felicitated with Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, on the occasion of his birthday.
A statement issued by the secretary of the body, Tare Magbei, commended Otuaro for his “steady leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme,” which according to the forum has “continued to strengthen peace, rehabilitation, and development in the Niger Delta.”
READ ALSO: Otuaro Lauds Tinubu For Backing PAP’s Peacebuilding Process In Niger Delta
“Your efforts in providing opportunities for ex-agitators and in advancing stability across the region stand as clear evidence of your dedication to the people and progress of our land.
“As you mark this new year of life, we join your family, friends, and well-wishers in praying for good health, wisdom, and greater success in the service of the Niger Delta and Nigeria.”
News
JUST IN: Okpehbolo Appoints New VC For AAU
Edo State governor, Monday Okpehbolo, has approved the appointment of Professor (Mrs.) Eunice Eboserehimen Omonzejie as the new Vice-Chancellor of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.
A statement issued late night by Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, said her appointment takes immediate effect.
According to the statement, Prof. Omonzejie was appointed amongst the three names submitted by the Governing Council of the university to the state government.
READ ALSO: Okpebholo Approves Construction Of 500-room Hostel For AAU
The statement partly reads, “Professor (Mrs.) Eunice Eboserehimen Omonzejie
Professor Omonzejie is a distinguished scholar of French and Francophone African Literatures and a long-serving academic in the Department of Modern Languages at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
“She is a prolific researcher and editor, with contributions to African and Francophone literary studies, gender studies, and cultural studies.
“She has served as the President of the Ambrose Alli University Chapter of the National Association of Women Academics (NAWACS), where she has championed mentoring, research, and advocacy for female academics and students.
“Professor Omonzejie has co-edited several seminal works including French Language in Nigeria: Essays in Honour of UFTAN Pacesetters and Language Matters in Contemporary West Africa, and is the author of Women Novelists in Francophone Black Africa: Views, Reviews and Interviews,” the statement added.
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