The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in a joint operation with the Nigeria Police Force, has burst a human trafficking gang in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
During the operation, which took place Thursday night at the Kubwa axis of Abuja, 11 girls were rescued while four suspected human traffickers were arrested.
The hotel where the girls were harboured, Thales Guest House (aka 33) located at Pipeline Area in Kubwa, Abuja, was also sealed off pending further investigations.
The raid reportedly followed an intelligence report about the place being used for underage and exploitative prostitution. Surveillance was reportedly mounted by officers of NAPTIP which led to the arrest of the four suspects: Onyinyechi Osuoha, 32; Nkechi Chukwuma, 37; Sandra Chi, 32 and Favour James, 27.
NAPTIP said the raid and arrest were in accordance with sections 43 and 52 of the Trafficking In Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, which authorises NAPTIP to enter, search and seal off properties suspected to be used for human trafficking purposes.
A statement from NAPTIP said preliminary findings revealed that the suspects often lured their victims, who are underage girls, from various parts of the country with promises of employment in the Federal Capital Territory.
However, upon their arrival at Abuja, they are put to work at the guest house, serving the clients and thereafter introduced to prostitution, at the end of which the suspects collect the money paid to them.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, while reacting to the news of the raid and arrests, commended the officers for a smooth operation.
The NAPTIP boss also sent a strong warning to operators of brothels who used underage girls as prostitutes to desist from the act.
She added that the suspects would be charged to court and prosecuted on completion of investigation.
