War-Induced Slavery and Human Exploitation in the Nigerian Civil War: A Socio- Political and Ethical Analysis

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between war and slavery, focusing specifically on the Nigerian Civil War. It argues that war produces multiple forms of enslavement beyond physical captivity, including forced labour, sexual exploitation, psychological trauma,economic dependency, and loss of human rights. Drawing from Nigerian and Igbo historical scholarship, the study demonstrates how wartime conditions create systems of coercion that restrict freedom and dignity. The analysis shows that during the Nigerian
Civil War, displacement, hunger, and social collapse exposed civilians especially women and children to various forms of exploitation such as forced recruitment, trafficking, and survival-based dependency. Using political economy, gender, cultural, and human security perspectives, the study explains how these forms of war-induced slavery are created andsustained. The study further identifies gaps in existing scholarship, particularly in relation to trauma, gendered suffering, and post-war recovery. It concludes that addressing warinduced slavery requires justice, economic reconstruction, protection of vulnerable populations, and culturally grounded rehabilitation strategies. Importantly, victims should be recognized not only as passive sufferers but also as active agents in peace building and recovery.