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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) said on Monday that its operatives have arrested four suspected traffickers, and rescued 17 alleged victims of human trafficking in a sting operation in a hotel in Anambra state.
Vincent Adekoye, Head of Press and Public Relations, in a statement, noted that the coordinated operations was carried out with the support of the military, adding that two suspects allegedly involved in the selling and buying of babies within the states of the south east region, were apprehended.
He said the action followed a credible intelligence by a non-state actor based in Anambra State which raised alarm about the presence of some underage girls within the hotel facility located around the 33 areas of Onitsha, Anambra State, and the health status of the victims, having carried out a voluntary screening on them after proper counselling.
He said preliminary investigation revealed that residents of the area have, before now, expressed worries over the unwholesome activities of the operators of the hotel which has about 45 rooms most especially the influx of men who daily throng the hotel to cool off with the underage girls.
He said that some of the victims were caught in the act with the randy lovers during the operation, while other victims were seen in skimpy wears and bump shots apparently waiting for their usual customers.
“During interrogation, the victims disclosed that they were recruited from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom States, and trafficked to Onitsha for alledged prostitution. They added that each of them are expected to remit N20, 000 to N25, 000 to their ‘Madam’ daily by sleeping with about five men with multiple sex rounds.
“It was my boyfriend who said he saw a job for me in Onitsha. When I arrived, the Madam sent someone to pick me at the park, and she introduced me to this ‘hustling’ job. She said I will work for her and pay N20, 000 daily, and that at the end of the year, she will buy me a box filled with assorted clothes and the sum of N500, 000 so that I can be free to go and start my own work.
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“It is not with a good mind that I am doing this job, but it was too late for me to refuse”, one of the Victims narrated.
Another victim whose status is compromised stated that when officials from Anambra State Aids Control Agency (ANSACA) came to test them, it was discovered that some of them have been infested with HIV, and were advised to start treatment to flush out the infection.
“They gave us medicine. But immediately they left, our Madam beat us seriously because we came out of the rooms to see the people who tested us. She collected the medicine they gave to us, and warned us that we should never go out for any treatment again. I cried and cried for hours, and the more I cried, the more she beat me”, another victim narrated her ordeal.
Adekoye further noted that four of the victims were confirmed infected with HIV, and are currently being counselled by a team of caregivers from NAPTIP and volunteers from the Anambra State Aids Control Agency (ANSACA).
The Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed sadness over the plight of the victims, and most especially their deteriorating health status.
She thanked the military in Onitsha for their support to NAPTIP during the sting operation, and also the Gender and Human Rights State Response Team (GHR-SRT) that provided timely intervention and collaboration that led to the rescue of the underage girls.
She said: “I am most devastated by the health status of the rescued victims and the action of their so-called Madam who not only collected the Antiretroviral medicines that were given to them, but also prevented them from assessing any further medical opportunity. This is a criminal act, and NAPTIP has launched a manhunt for her.”
She confirmed that NAPTIP has invited the owner of the hotel for further interrogation with a view to determining the next sanction on the facility. “As said few weeks ago, NAPTIP shall continue to double its efforts and scale up activities to ensure a good chase for the human trafficking criminal elements in the Country”, the NAPTIP Director General stated.
