The Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare has rescued over 20 sex workers from a brothel in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.
The girls, between the ages of 15 and 25 were rescued during a raid by the team from the Ministry, in collaboration with State Police Command following a tip-off from a whistle-blower.
Narrating their ordeal, some of the rescued girls between the ages of 16 years to 24 years, said they were either taken to the brothel by a friend or relation in the guise of securing a hotel job for them.
They confessed they slept with no fewer than 10 men daily to ensure their targets were met or risk being beaten mercilessly by their madam.
They further revealed that they returned between N4,000 to N10,000 on weekdays, and N15,000 to N30,000 on weekends to their respective bosses.
“Our phones and other belongings were collected from us before we were handed over to another woman with a condition of being released only if we bring a certain amount of money to her or be ready to serve her for a period of one year.
“We make between N4,000 to N10,000 on weekdays, and N15,000 to N30,000 on weekends to our different direct bosses which were collected by the owner of Top Ten Amaechi Etikokwu.
“It is from the proceeds of the prostitution business we pay our rent of N3,500 to the owner every day.
“We sleep with about 10 men a day in order to meet up with the target given to us and if we don’t meet up with the target, we will be beaten mercilessly by our madam,” they said.
On how they feed and cope at the brothel, the girls confessed to being given N500 every morning for feeding for the entire day, adding that the food was brought to them by the security positioned at different areas of the hotel.
Confirming the incident, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo said two of the rescued girls were under-aged and had been taken to hospital for medical examination and possible treatment.
She said the arrested suspect currently in police custody would be arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka.
“Before embarking on the raid, the investigation was carried out by the Ministry and it was discovered that the management of the hotel by the Top Ten Hotels Oba, engages in trafficking girls from all parts of the country for prostitution purposes,” she said.
Appreciating Police efforts in assisting in rescuing the girls, the Commissioner lamented the spate of trafficking despite the government’s efforts to stop the menace in the state.
She however assured that justice is served, just as she restated the government’s commitment to ending all forms of child kidnapping, trafficking, and sex slavery in the state.
She also urged residents to always report any suspicious activity around their vicinity for prompt response and action.
