How Anambra State Govt Rescued 20 Women, Including Minors, from Trafficking in Prostitution

The Anambra State Government has successfully rescued 20 women, including two underage girls, who were ensnared in a prostitution ring within the state. This daring rescue operation was conducted in Oba, a community in Idemili South Local Government Area, uncovering a grim tale of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the media aide to the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, confirmed this breakthrough in a statement released on Wednesday. The victims, aged between 15 and 25 years old, were found in a hotel that was being used as a brothel. The operation was initiated after a tip-off from a concerned community resident, prompting law enforcement to take swift action.

Two of the rescued girls are underage, and they have already been taken to a medical facility for examination and potential treatment, according to Ms. Ikeanyionwu.

Before the rescue operation, the ministry conducted a thorough investigation, revealing that the hotel, Top Ten Hotels in Oba, had been trafficking girls from various parts of the country for prostitution. The victims told harrowing stories of being tricked into this life of exploitation.

The rescued girls shared that they were initially lured to the hotel under false pretenses, brought there by a friend or relative who promised them legitimate employment. It was only upon arrival that they realized they had been trafficked into prostitution. Their captors confiscated their personal belongings, including their phones, and handed them over to another woman who informed them they could only leave if they brought in a specific amount of money or engaged in prostitution for a year.

These victims endured a grim existence, reporting earnings ranging from N4,000 to N10,000 on weekdays and up to N15,000 to N30,000 on weekends. However, the money they earned was often taken by their “direct bosses” and the hotel owner, Amaechi Etiokwu.

To meet their financial obligations to their captors, the women were forced to have sexual encounters with up to 10 men daily. Their daily sustenance consisted of a meager N500 for food, with security personnel occasionally helping them buy meals. They also had to pay a daily rent fee of N3,500 from their earnings.

Following the raid, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare in Anambra State, Mrs. Obinabo, commended the police for their role in rescuing the girls. She expressed her concern that human trafficking persisted despite the government’s efforts to eradicate it but assured that the alleged traffickers would face prosecution.

The government’s commitment to ending child kidnapping, trafficking, and sex slavery remains resolute, and residents have been urged to report any suspicious activities in their neighborhoods.

The suspects involved in this human trafficking operation have been apprehended by the police and will be arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Magistrate Court in Awka.

It’s worth noting that human trafficking, including sex and labor exploitation, is strictly prohibited in Nigeria. The Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, enacted in 2015, prescribes severe penalties, including a minimum of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of N1 million for individuals involved in such activities.

Over the years, there have been convictions for human trafficking across the country, sending a strong message that this heinous crime will not be tolerated. Recent cases, such as the conviction of Ehie Ehirobo in 2018, and the sentencing of three individuals in 2019, illustrate Nigeria’s commitment to combating human trafficking and protecting the vulnerable.