Navy, NAPTIP, NSCDC arrest three suspected sex traffickers, rescue 50 victims in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested three suspected sex traffickers during a string operation against operators of brothels and sex traffickers in Diobu, Port Harcourt , the Rivers State capital.

The operation, which took place at about 8:30a.m, had the joint team raid two brothels known as Royal and Cool Breeze both located on Azikiwe Road, Diobu Port Harcourt.

The raid resulted in the arrest of three suspected recruiters of prostitutes and rescue of 50 victims, who are mostly under-aged camped in brothels for prostitutions and sex trafficking.

Parading the suspects at the military base, the Information Officer of the base, Lieutenant Commander Rasheed Iginla, noted that efforts are ongoing to track and arrest the real kingpins and traffickers, adding that on completion of profiling, the suspects and victims will be handed over to NAPTIP, the appropriate agency for further investigation and prosecution.

He said: “The intelligence actually came from NAPTIP, they have been tracking this particular brothel that camps children or juveniles and some of them are 14 years old.  “So, when they brought the intelligence in conjunction with NSCDC, a team was set up and we went into action and interestingly you can see for yourself the number of people that were brought out of the hotel. Sadly, some of the victims are as young as 14 years old.”

Iginla advised parents and caregivers to take the welfare and responsibility of parenting their children and wards more seriously.

He assured that the Nigerian Navy will collaborate with relevant agencies to bring perpetrators to justice.

He said: “Children are gifts from God and we must do everything humanly possible to protect them from all forms of abuse. As for those who are criminally minded and are bent on exploitation and trafficking in persons either on land or through the waterways, I assure you that the NN will collaborate with relevant agencies to bring perpetrators to justice.”

Some of the rescued victims, when interviewed, said they were brought from their villages in the guise of coming to work as house-help but later were forced into prostitution.

Narrating her ordeal, 15-year-old Ruth, said: “One of my village women came to the village and informed us that there is work to serve in a hotel. So, she brought me and two other people to Port Harcourt to meet one woman.

“She and the woman went outside to discuss, the woman gave her money and since that day she has not come to see us again.

“The woman put us in a room without telling us anything. Later she called us and informed us that it was Ashawo work that we will be doing.

“When I told her I can’t do it, she told us that she had paid big money and we must do it.
“In a day, I sleep with more than ten men and whatever money I make I give it to my madam.

“I am from Anambra State but I was staying in Aba before they brought me to Port Harcourt.

“We hustle by wearing pants to stand then a man will carry us inside the room and go and have sex and give us money.

“We do a daily account of the money we make to our madam’s sister, she is the person that calculates our cut. We sleep with numerous men.

“I don’t like this life, I want something better, like going back to school or learning a trade.”

Another victim identified as Rose said: “I am from Anambra State. What brought me here is, I came to find help after my father died and there was nobody to help me. I came to Port Harcourt to use my body to hustle.

“I have been living in Port Harcourt but because of the hardship which I couldn’t bear, I packed to Ashawo quarter where they came to arrest me.

“I don’t like what I do but the condition forced me to do it.”

Speaking,  Head of NAPTIP Rivers State, Nwa-amaka Ikediashi, said the agency will counsel and rehabilitate the victims and reintegrate them back into society.