The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested four suspected human traffickers and rescued 17 alleged victims during a raid on a popular hotel in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The operation, carried out around the 33 Area of the commercial city, was conducted with the support of the military, NAPTIP said in a statement on Monday.
The agency stated that two additional suspects allegedly involved in child trafficking and the buying and selling of babies within the South-East were also apprehended during the coordinated operation.
NAPTIP disclosed that four of the rescued victims tested positive for HIV and are currently receiving counselling and care from the agency’s caregivers in collaboration with volunteers from the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency.
The agency said the raid followed credible intelligence from a non-state actor in Anambra State, which indicated that underage girls were being harboured in the hotel and allegedly exploited for commercial sex.
Investigations revealed that residents of the area had earlier raised concerns over suspicious activities at the hotel, particularly the frequent influx of men patronising underage girls within the facility, which reportedly has about 45 rooms.
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NAPTIP said some of the victims were caught during the raid engaging customers, while others were seen dressed in revealing outfits, allegedly waiting for clients.
During interrogation, the victims reportedly disclosed that they were recruited from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom States and trafficked to Onitsha for alleged prostitution.
They alleged that each of them was compelled to remit between N20,000 and N25,000 daily to their handlers after sleeping with an average of five men.
One of the victims told investigators that she was lured to Onitsha by her boyfriend under the guise of securing a job, only to be forced into prostitution on arrival.
Another victim alleged that their “madam” confiscated antiretroviral drugs given to them by health workers and assaulted them for attempting to seek medical treatment after discovering their HIV status.
Reacting to the development, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, expressed concern over the condition of the victims, particularly their health status.
She thanked the military and the gender and human rights state response team under the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency for their support during the operation.
Bello described the alleged seizure of antiretroviral drugs and denial of medical care to the victims as a criminal act, adding that a manhunt had been launched for the suspect believed to be their handler.
She also disclosed that the owner of the hotel had been invited for interrogation to determine possible sanctions against the facility.
The NAPTIP boss reiterated the agency’s resolve to intensify efforts against human trafficking across the country, warning traffickers to desist or face the consequences.
