The Nigeria Police Force, Anambra State command has successfully rescued nine girls between the ages of fifteen to twenty-three years who were being used as sex slaves in a facility.
The police also arrested a hotel proprietor in the state, who was allegedly involved in the illegal activity on Sunday.
During interrogation, the girls who were lured to the state with job promises confessed they were taken from Ebonyi, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, and Rivers States.
According to DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, the police command spokesperson, the police have transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department Awka, SCID for detailed investigation.
Tochukwu added that the owner of the facility shall be charged in court following the conclusion of the probe.
He said:
“Following the information received from Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare yesterday, June 18, by 6 pm, police operatives stormed a hotel in Awka and rescued 9 girls within the age bracket of 15-23years, used for sex slaves and arrested the proprietor of the hotel.
“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 has 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 afterward.”
