Authorities in Ogun State have uncovered a shocking case of human trafficking in Ifo Local Government Area, leading to the rescue of 15 young women and girls forced into prostitution. The operation, carried out by the Ogun State Amotekun Corps, resulted in the arrest of Idem Joy and other suspects believed to be running the brothel.
The victims, aged between 12 and 39, were kept at the Railway Line Hotel on Old Bank Road. Fourteen of them were trafficked from Akwa Ibom, while the others came from Cross River and Delta states. Some of the girls were later found to be HIV positive.
Joy, the 29-year-old suspect, denied forcing the girls into prostitution. She claimed they knew what they were getting into and were not held against their will. However, investigations revealed that the victims were lured with false job promises and later forced to swear oaths to prevent them from escaping.
Some of the victims, terrified to speak, shared how they were deceived and forced into the trade. A 14-year-old survivor revealed that she was promised a job as a salesgirl but was later forced into prostitution after being given drugs. She also said her hair was cut as part of a ritual to instill fear.
Another survivor, a 17-year-old girl, said she was made to take an oath while standing naked on a Bible. She was told she had to work for a year before being set free and rewarded with a phone and clothes.
The victims disclosed they were made to sleep with multiple men daily, earning between ₦1,000 and ₦5,000 per customer. However, all the money went to their madams.
The Ogun State commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Abosede Jimoh, confirmed that the case had been taken to court. The victims are currently in protective custody, receiving counseling and medical care.
Investigations also revealed that their phones and menstrual pads were confiscated as a control tactic. Some of the girls tested positive for HIV, while one was found to be pregnant.
Barrister Adedamola Lapite, the Ogun State coordinator of the Child Protection Network, emphasized that minors cannot give consent to sexual activities. He condemned the act and called for strict punishment for traffickers.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, assured that the government is committed to fighting human trafficking and protecting young girls from exploitation.
