Anambra rescues 20 sex slave workers, trafficking suspects arrested
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A government raid in Anambra has led to the rescue of 20 girls aged between 15 and 25 years from a brothel in Oba, Idemili South Council in the state.
Some of the traffickers were arrested, according to Women Affairs and Social Welfare Commissioner Ify Obinabo, who disclosed the raid was done in collaboration with police following a tip-off from a whistleblower.
It was learnt two of the rescued girls are teenagers and they were taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment.
The ministry reportedly swung into action when it discovered the management of the brothel trafficked girls from all parts of the country for prostitution.
Obinabo expressed appreciation to the police for helping to rescue the girls but lamented some people are still flouting the law despite government’s efforts to prevent criminal activities.
She reiterated the government’s commitment to ending all forms of child kidnapping, trafficking, and sex slavery, and urged citizens to report any suspicious activity in their vicinity to the authorities for prompt response and action.
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Disbursement of proceeds of prostitution
Some of the rescued girls said
- They were taken to the brothel by a friend or a relation to secure jobs, only to discover they were trafficked for sex work, per Daily Post.
- Recounted how their traffickers seized their phones and other belongings before handing them over to a woman who told them they would be released only if they paid a certain amount to her or serve her for one year.
- They sleep with about 10 men a day in order to meet the target set for them or risk being beaten mercilessly by their madam.
- They made between N4,000 and N10,000 on weekdays and between N15,000 and N30,000 on weekends but the monies were taken from them by their supervisors.
- They paid between N3,000 and N3,500 daily to the brothel owner as rent, and were given N500 each per day to feed, the food brought to them by brothel security personnel.
Obinabo disclosed the arrested suspects will be arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Magistrate Court in Awka.
