William Brangham:

Oghagbon couldn't come up with the roughly $2,000. They haven't heard from Evelyn since.

Nigeria is one of the top countries in Africa as far as the number of people who try to leave here to go find a different life up in Europe. And Edo State, which is where we are right now, accounts for the vast majority of Nigerians leaving the country. Almost half the people who depart come from right here.

While Nigeria makes a lot of money from oil, corruption, poverty and high unemployment have sent young people looking for opportunities elsewhere for years. The money those migrants send back helps their families build houses and buy cars, propping up the local economy and fueling the cycle of more migration.

This young man — he prefers to be known only as Amos — was told he could find work easily in Europe. At the time, Amos' life wasn't bad. His family lived in a large home. He took vacations with friends. He had a girlfriend, and he was going to school to become a nurse. But he says the smugglers promised him an easy journey.