The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested four suspects and rescued 17 victims during a raid on a popular hotel in Onitsha, Anambra State.

According to a statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations Unit of the Agency, Vincent Adekoye, four of the victims rescued were 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).

The Agency said, the victims were recruited from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom States and trafficked to Onitsha for alleged prostitution.

Two suspects allegedly involved in selling and buying babies within the South-Eastern States were nabbed during the raid, which was carried out with the support of the military.

Adekoye stated that 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.

The statement read, “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 the operation, while some of the victims were caught in the act with the randy lovers, other victims were seen in skimpy wears and bump shots apparently waiting for their usual customers.

“During interrogation, the victims disclosed that they were recruited from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom States and trafficked to Onitsha for alleged prostitution

“They added that each of them remits the sum of N20,000 to N25,000 to their “Madam” daily by sleeping with about 5 men with multiple sex rounds.”

One of the victims narrated, “It was my boyfriend who said he saw a job for me here in Onitsha. When I arrived here, the Madam sent someone to pick me up at the park and she introduced me to this hustling job. She said I will work for her and pay N20, 000 daily and that at the end of the year, she will buy me a box filled with assorted clothes and the sum of N500, 000 so that I can be free to go and start my own work. It is not with a good mind that I am doing this job, but it was too late for me to refuse”.

A victim who is HIV positive said, “When the people came here to test us, they told me that I have been infested, and they advised me and my friends that we need to start treatment to flush out the infection. They gave us medicine. But, after they left, our Madam beat us seriously because we came out of the rooms to see the people who tested us.

“She collected the medicine they gave to us and warned us that we should never go out for any treatment again. I cried and cried for hours, and the more I cried, the more she beat me”.

The Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, expressed sadness over the plights of the victims.

She stated, “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 Organization 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 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 Nation)