ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Not less than 50 prostitutes have been rescued by the Nigeria Navy, during a major raid on two brothels in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. Also, three suspected sex traffickers were arrested during the raid.
The Base Information Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Lt.-Cdr. Richard Iginla, paraded the suspects and rescued victims before newsmen on Sunday.
Iginla noted that the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Nigeria Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
According to him, the 50 prostitutes, mainly teenage girls were rescued in the early hours of Saturday after a tip-off from the NAPTIP.
He said: “We got the intelligence from NAPTIP, who had been tracking the brothels that camped juveniles with some of them as young as 14 years of age.
“So, after NAPTIP shared intelligence with us, a joint team was set up and we immediately went into action to rescue the victims.
“No fewer than 50 young girls forced into prostitution were rescued while three recruiters and operators of the brothels were arrested.”
Iginla informed that the brothels; Royal Brothel and Cool Breeze Brothel both located on Azikiwe Road in Diobu area of Port Harcourt had been shut down.
Also, he noted that efforts were ongoing to the trail and arrest the leaders of the sex trafficking ring, which recruits children from villages into prostitution.
“Children are gifts from God, and we must do everything humanly possible to protect them from all forms of abuse and exploitation.
“The Nigeria Navy will continue to collaborate with relevant agencies to bring to justice criminal elements that traffic persons either on land or through the waterways.
“On conclusion of our investigation, the suspects and victims will be handed over to NAPTIP for further investigation and possible prosecution,” he added.
Speaking also, the Head of NAPTIP in Rivers, Mrs. Nwa-amaka Ikediashi, disclosed that the agency would immediately rehabilitate the victims with a focus on reintegrating them back into society.
According to her, the victims, mainly under-aged girls, would also partake in different phases of counselling, to ensure they don’t continue prostitution.
“NAPTIP, as the focal agency mandated to fight all forms of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, will conduct a proper investigation, to ensure justice is served,” she assured.
One of the rescued minors, an Anambra indigene, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that she was trafficked from her village to work as a house help.
The victim said on her arrival in Port Harcourt in the company of one of her kinswomen, she was forced into prostitution.
“One of my village women (trafficker) brought me and two other girls from our village with the impression that we are coming to serve in a hotel.
“Shortly after we arrived at the hotel, she (trafficker) went outside and collected money from one woman (brothel operator). That was the last time I saw her (trafficker).
“Later, the woman, simply known as madam, put us in a room and told us that we would work as Ashawo (prostitute),” she said.
Ruth said she immediately refused to work as a prostitute but after the operator threatened her with torture and starvation, she gave in.
“In a day I sleep with more than 10 men, and whatever money I make, I give it to my madam.
“We hustle by wearing pants to seduce the men. After admiring what they see, they (men) take us into the room; have sex with us and give us money.
“We do a daily account of any money we collect to our madam’s sister, who calculates and gives us our cut,” she added