Kwara State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) rescued four young ladies who were being trafficked from Port Harcourt to Ilorin for alleged sex slavery/prostitution.
In a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the state command of the corps, Babawale Afolabi, in Ilorin on Tuesday, the command also arrested a female 37-year-old suspected human trafficker.
“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 who were brought to Ilorin from Port Harcourt for purpose of using them as sex slaves or prostitutes. Operatives of the human trafficking unit of the corps swung into action and rounded them up at the point of entry” the state Commandant of the corps, Ayinla Iskil, said
He also said that one Gift Rita, 37, suspected to be the trafficker, has been arrested, adding that the four victims and the suspect had 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 the 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.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State NAPTIP Commander has appealed to the 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.