Metro
How Anambra Govt Rescued Ebonyi Underage Girls From Forced Prostitution
The Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon. Ify Obinabo in collaboration with the Anambra State Police Command have rescued underaged girls between the ages of 14 and 16 from a Guest Inn located at Amawbia Town in Awka South Local Government Area.
Hon. Obinabo made the revelation while speaking to Journalists at her office on Tuesday.
The Commissioner informed that the rescued girls from the raid had three underaged and the Ministry contacted their families and thereafter took them to hospital for medical examination, possible treatment and psychosocial support.
Obinabo opined that the recent raid is in line with the present administration’s resolve in stemming the tide and nipping in the bud all forms of child abuse, child trafficking, child labour, sexual slavery and negative practices against the children and women in the State.
The Women Affairs boss informed that the State Government under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Soludo is in the know about the recent case and the suspects would be dealt with in accordance with the law, she also warned hotel and luxury homeowners to desist from engaging underage girls in such illicit practices as offenders would be made to face the full weight of the law.
Narrating their ordeal, the three underaged girls of Ebonyi State origin while sharing their experiences revealed that they were taken from their various homes in Izza and brought to Awka by two ladies named Chika and Ifeoma with a promise to secure jobs for them but instead were forced into prostitution.
They revealed that the women must have used charms on them as they yielded to all their requests by traveling with them all the way from Ebonyi State to Awka. The girls stated that upon arrival at the brothel, their phones and other personal effects were seized while they were forced to put on bikinis before they were handed over to a woman named Ezenwanyi who told them that they will only regain their freedom if they provide the sum of N150,000 or a condition of one year service to her.
The underaged victims stated that they were able to reach out to their families with the aid of a whistle-blower’s phone while the whistle-blower reported to the Ministry of Women Affairs which led to the raid of the brothel by the Ministry in collaboration with the Police. On how much they make daily at the brothel, the underaged girls revealed that they were mandated to remit the sum of N10,000 to N15,000 per night and N40,000 every Sunday.
In her response, one of the parents of the girls, Mrs Uchechi thanked the Women Affairs Commissioner for the rescue operation from the daredevils and for ensuring that the girls were found and returned back to their parents, Uchechi admonished parents to always be vigilant and be sure of their children’s whereabouts at all times.
She stated that her daughter’s disappearance was such a harrowing experience as she faced days of sleepless nights after lodging a complaint at the Abakaliki Police Division but felt a bit of relief when suddenly after days of disappearance, she got a call from her daughter which necessitated her reaching out to the Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare for help.
According to the Women Affairs Boss, the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Awka for thorough and comprehensive investigation with the offenders expected to be charged to court.
(Tribune)
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