In a commendable operation, the Nigeria Police Force, Anambra State command, has apprehended a hotel proprietor in the state and successfully rescued nine girls who were being subjected to sexual slavery within the facility.
The police received information from the Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare on June 18th, prompting their prompt response. Acting swiftly, police operatives stormed a hotel in Awka and rescued the nine girls, aged between 15 and 23 years, who were being exploited as sex slaves. The proprietor of the hotel was also arrested during the operation.
According to DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, the spokesperson for the police command, the rescued girls have confessed to being brought from Ebonyi, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, and Rivers States. Their captors had enticed them with promises of job opportunities, exploiting their vulnerability and the desperate circumstances of their families.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department Awka SCID for further investigation, and the hotel owner will be charged to court accordingly.
The police command expressed strong condemnation for such heinous acts and condemned those who profit from exploiting vulnerable individuals. They described such establishments as dens where criminals seek refuge, emphasizing their commitment to eradicating such practices. The police called on the residents of Anambra to provide them with information about similar establishments, as joint operations are already underway to weed out these harbors of criminal activity.
The Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare is working in collaboration with the police to ensure the well-being of the rescued girls. Efforts are being made to safely return them to their parents or guardians and provide them with the necessary support and care they need.
The successful rescue operation and subsequent arrests serve as a reminder of the importance of concerted efforts to combat human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. It also highlights the need for increased vigilance and the provision of information to the authorities to dismantle such criminal networks and protect the rights and dignity of all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable members of society.
