LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Anambra State Police Command has rescued nine young girls and arrested the owner of a hotel in Awka the state capital over alleged sex slavery.
The girls, between the ages of 15 to 23, were reportedly rescued by the police after a tip-off from a member of the public.
It was gathered that the girls were brought to the brothel by respective individuals after they were lured with promises of job offers to help alleviate poverty and the needs of their respective parents.
The girls also confessed to being taken from Ebonyi, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, and Rivers States respectively.
Spokesperson of the State Command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga told journalists in a statement on 19 June, that the command is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare to make sure the girls are taken care of and safely returned to their parents and guardians.
Ikenga said the disclosure is in accordance with information received from Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare on 18 June.
According to him, Police Operatives stormed a hotel in Awka and rescued nine girls within the age bracket of 15-23 years, used sex slaves and arrested the proprietor of the hotel.
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The statement read, “Meanwhile, further interrogations/confessions of the rescued girls, revealed that the respective persons that brought them to the brothel lured/entice them on the assurances of giving them jobs to alleviate poverty/needs of their parents and dependents.”
“They further confessed to being taken from Ebonyi, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, and Rivers States. Also, the Police Command is in collaboration with the Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare to make sure the girls are taken care of and safely returned to their parents/guardians.”
The Command had condemned the act and frowned at such persons who take advantage of vulnerable individuals to make money and describe such places as a den where criminals take refuge.
“We urge the good people of Anambra to continue to provide the police with information about such places as the joint operations to weed such harbour has commenced.”
“The case has since been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department Awka (SCID), for comprehensive investigation and shall be charged to court afterwards,” he added.