In a commendable collaborative effort with the local police, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Anambra State, recently led a rescue mission that saved approximately twenty young girls, aged between fifteen and twenty-five, from a brothel in Oba, within the Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.
The successful operation was initiated based on a tip-off from a concerned whistleblower.
Among the rescued girls, two were teenagers. The commissioner wasted no time in ensuring their well-being by immediately taking them to the hospital for medical examinations and potential treatment.
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Girl trafficking in Anambra
Disturbingly, it was revealed that the hotel’s management had been trafficking girls from various parts of the country for the sole purpose of prostitution.
This revelation serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges in combatting human trafficking and sex slavery in the region.
Expressing her gratitude towards the Nigeria Police Force, Anambra State Command, for their invaluable assistance in the rescue operation, Hon.
Obinabo also voiced her concern about the ongoing violations of the law. Despite the state government’s dedicated efforts, individuals and establishments continue to flout regulations related to child kidnapping, trafficking, and sex slavery.
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The horrible experience of the ladies
The Commissioner reinforced the state government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating all forms of child trafficking and sex slavery within Anambra State. She urged Anambra residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities within their communities to ensure swift responses and actions against perpetrators.
Several of the girls who were rescued, ranging from 16 to 24 years old, shared their harrowing experiences. They disclosed that they had been brought to the brothel under false pretenses. They had been promised legitimate hotel jobs but were, in reality, trafficked into prostitution.
Their stories further revealed that the individuals who lured them to the brothel confiscated their personal belongings, including their mobile phones. Subsequently, they were handed over to another woman who informed them that their release was contingent upon raising a certain sum of money or serving her for a year.
Regarding their daily earnings, the rescued girls disclosed that they made between 4,000 and 10,000 naira on weekdays, and considerably more—ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 naira—on weekends. However, all their earnings were promptly tak
In addition to paying their supervisors, the girls had to pay daily rent to the brothel owner, which amounted to 3,500 naira daily, extracted from their earnings from the prostitution business.
When questioned about their daily sustenance, the girls shared that they were provided with a meager sum of five hundred naira every morning for their entire day’s meals, which were delivered by security personnel stationed at different areas of the hotel.
