The police in Anambra State have rescued two under aged girls, and 18 others from traffickers after a raid at a popular hotel in Oba town, in Idemili South Local Council of the state.
Some of the girls, who were between 16 and 24 years, claimed that they were taken to the hotel by friends or relatives on the guise of securing a hotel job for them, without knowing they were being trafficked.
One of them, who identified herself as Ebere, said: “We have different ‘madams’ at the hotel, and the money we made is taken away by our different direct ‘madams’, while the owner of the hotel, in turn, comes to collect the money.
“It is from the money we make that we pay the rent to the owner everyday. We pay the sum of N3, 500, as rent on a daily basis from the proceeds of the prostitution business.
“We were given N500 every morning for feeding for the whole day, and the food was brought to us by the security guard positioned at different areas of the hotel.”
Another victim, who couldn’t mention her name, claimed that the person who brought them to the brothel usually seized their phones, and other belongings before handing them over to another woman, who told them that they would only be released if they brought a certain amount of money to her or served her for a year.
She also revealed that they sleep with about 10 men a day to meet up with the target, and if they don’t meet up with the target, they risk being beaten mercilessly by their madam.
The victims also claimed that they made between N4, 000 and N10, 000 daily, and N15, 000 to N30, 000 on weekends.
Commenting on the incident, yesterday, the state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, lamented that despite the state’s efforts to stop human trafficking, some people are still engaging in the illicit act.
While commending efforts of security operatives in rescuing the girls, Obinabo vowed to ensure that justice is served to act as a deterrent to others.
She explained that the ministry carried out an investigation and discovered that the management of the hotel was trafficking girls from all parts of the country for prostitution purposes.
“The suspects are in police custody and will be arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Magistrate Court in Awka.
“The state government is committed to ending all forms of child kidnapping, trafficking and sex slavery in the state. We urge Ndị Anambra to always report any suspicious activity around their vicinity for prompt response and action,” the commissioner added.