The Kwara State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has intercepted and rescued four under-aged girls who were trafficked from Port Harcourt, Rivers State to Ilorin for the purpose of being used as sex slaves/prostitutes.
The Commandant of the NSCDC in the State, Makinde Iskil Ayinla, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Command’s spokesman Babawale Zaid Afolabi and made available to newsmen in Ilorin on Tuesday. He revealed that a 37-year-old suspected female human trafficker, Gift Rita, was also arrested.
“The State Command was alerted by a concerned citizen of a suspected case of human trafficking involving four under-aged girls (names withheld) with ages ranging from 15 to 16 years who were brought to Ilorin from PortHarcourt for the purpose of using them as sex slaves or prostitutes.”
He said, “Operatives of the human trafficking unit of the corps swung into action and rounded them up at the point of entry.”
He explained further, “One Gift Rita, 37, who was suspected to be the trafficker has been arrested, adding that the four victims and the suspect have been handed over to the operatives of the NAPTIP, Kwara State Command for further action and possible prosecution of the suspect.”
The State Commander of NAPTIP, Saadu Mustapha, said that the arrest of the suspect and the victims was successful as a result of their collaboration with NSCDC.
Mustapha promised that the agency would rehabilitate the victims and reunite them with their families, while the suspect would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, depending on their level of involvement.
In the meantime, the Kwara State NAPTIP Commander has appealed to parents and guardians to take good care of their female wards adding that the victims will be profiled and their families will be contacted after necessary procedures.