The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raided a popular, highly rated hotel in Onitsha, Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria, arresting four suspected traffickers and rescuing 17 alleged victims of human trafficking.
The arrest was contained in a press statement issued to the journalist in Abuja, the nation’s capital, by the head of the Press and Public Relations Unit, Vincent Adekoye.
The arrest was part of the renewed onslaught on the activities of some human traffickers across the country.
The statement reads, “During the coordinated operations, which were carried out with the support of the military, two suspects allegedly involved in the selling and buying of babies within the states of the Southeast Region were apprehended.”
“Sadly, four of the victims were said to be 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).”
Underage Girls
The latest operation followed a credible intelligence by a non-state Actor based in Anambra State, which indicated the presence of some underage girls within the said facility and the health status of the victims, having carried out a voluntary screening on them after proper counselling.
Investigation revealed that residents of the area have, before now, expressed worry over the unwholesome activities of the operators of the hotel, which has about 45 rooms, most especially the influx of men who daily throng there to cool off with the underage girls.
During interrogation, the victims disclosed that they were recruited from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom States and trafficked to Onitsha for alleged prostitution.
Plights of the victims
Speaking on the development, the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed sadness over the plights of the victims and most especially their deteriorating health status.
“I want to sincerely thank the military in Onitsha for their support to NAPTIP during this operation, and also the Gender and Human Rights State Response Team (GHR-SRT) domiciled under the Anambra State Aids Control Agency (ANSACA) in the Office of the Governor, who provided timely intervention and collaboration that led to the rescue of the underage girls.
“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 by the good-spirited organisation that visited the hotel, but also prevented them from accessing any further medical opportunity. This is a criminal act, and NAPTIP has launched a manhunt for her.
“The Agency has also invited the owner of the hotel for interrogation with a view to determining the next sanction on the facility.
“As said a 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.
Lateefah Ibrahim