BBC News - Lizzy Idahosa guilty of 'juju' sex trafficking at Cardiff Crown Court

This is what happens when religious beliefs are exploited, when fear is used as a means of manipulation and control.

Lizzy Idahosa, 24, arranged for the women to be put through a ritualistic "juju" ceremony in Nigeria to make them afraid of disobeying her.

Her partner Jackson Omoruyi was found guilty of money laundering offences.

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During the trial, the jury heard the women worked in brothels to repay Idahosa £50,000 for travel from Nigeria and false documents.

The victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the juju ritual - sometimes known as voodoo or magic - left them fearing illness, madness, infertility and death.

They had sex with up to seven or eight men a day and were moved around a number of brothels in Croydon, Stevenage, Brighton, Swansea and Cardiff.

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Investigators said it was the first time they had been involved in a case where juju had been used to control victims - although they had previously heard about it happening.
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"These poor unfortunate women were vulnerable and were led to believe through juju their lives were controlled and they were frightened because something could happen to them," said Mr Chapman.

"People may see them out in public but they're being controlled. But using witchcraft is a very powerful means of controlling a person."
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"These two defendants were involved in an elaborate deception, taking advantage of cultural and financial issues in order to gain a devastating hold over their vulnerable victims. Once the victims had entered the UK, they were exploited and abused in the most brutal manner," she added.

BBC News - Lizzy Idahosa guilty of 'juju' sex trafficking at Cardiff Crown Court

See also:

Juju's 'control is powerful' - expert Siddharth Kara

The trial at cardiff Crown Court heard the "juju" ritual - sometimes known as voodoo or magic - left them fearing illness, madness, infertility and death.

Trafficking expert Siddharth Kara teaches human trafficking and modern slavery at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in the USA.

He travelled to Nigeria to trace the roots of juju in trafficking and has met priests who conduct juju ceremony. He says [juju] exerts a kind of control that is much more potent than chains or locking someone up.

"It's control of the spirit which is far more powerful and insidious," he says.