Over 20 girls have been rescued from s£x slavery in a brothel at Oba in Idemili South Local Government of Anambra State.
The girls were rescued during a raid by a team from the Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the state police command, following a tip off from a whistle-blower.
Narrating their ordeal, some of the rescued girls said they were taken to the brothel by friends or relations under the guise of securing hotel job for them.
They confessed sleeping with no fewer than 10 men daily to ensure their targets were met or risk being beaten mercilessly by their madam.
They further revealed that they returned between N4,000 and N10,000 on week days, and N15,000 to N30,000 on weekends to their bosses.
“Our phones and other belongings are collected from us before we are handed over to another woman, with a condition of being released only if we bring certain amount of money to her or be ready to serve her for one year.
“We make between N4,000 and N10,000 on week days, and N15,000 to N30,000 on weekends for our direct bosses, which are collected by the owner of Top Ten Amaechi Etikokwu.
“It is from the proceeds of the prostitution we pay our rent of N3,500 to the owner everyday.
“We sleep with about 10 men a day in order to meet up with the target given to us and if we don’t meet up, we will be beaten mercilessly by our madam,” they said.
On how they feed and cope at the brothel, the girls confessed being given N500 every morning for feeding for the entire day, saying the food was brought to them by the security guards positioned at areas in the hotel.
Confirming the incident, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, said two of the rescued girls were underage persons and had been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment.
She said the arr£sted suspect currently in the police custody would be arraigned at the Children, S£xual and Gender Based Violence Magistrates’ Court in Awka.
“Before embarking on the raid, investigation was carried out by the ministry and it was discovered that the management of the hotel, Top Ten Hotels, Oba, trafficks girls from all parts of the country for prostitution,” Obinabo said.
Appreciating police efforts in assisting to rescue the girls, the commissioner lamented the spate of trafficking despite government’s efforts to stop the menace.
She said justice would be served, restating government’s commitment to end child kidnapping, trafficking and s€x slavery.
She advised residents to report suspicious activities in their vicinity for prompt response and action. Punch Nigeria
