By John Ugo , Awka
The Anambra’ state police command has rescued none young girls and arrested a propietor of an hotel in Awka the state capital over alleged sex slavery.
The age of the girls ranges from 15 to 23 years.
The police were said to have stormed the hotel following information they received at about 6:00pm on Sunday.
It was learnt that the girls were brought to the brothel by some individuals after they were lured with promises of job offers to help alleviate poverty and needs of their respective parents.
The girls also confessed to being taken from Ebonyi, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, and Rivers States respectively.
Spokesperson of the State Command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga told newsmen in a statement on Monday that the command is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare to make sure the girls are taken care of and safely returned to their parents and guardians.
Ikenga said that the feat followed the information received from Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare on Sunday 18/6/2023 by 6:00 pm.
According to him, Police Operatives stormed a hotel in Awka and rescued nine girls within the age bracket of 15-23years, used for sex slaves and arrested the proprietor of the hotel.
The statement by the command said
“further interrogations/confessions of the rescued girls, revealed that the respective persons that brought them to the brothel lured/entice them on the assurances of giving them jobs to alleviate poverty/needs of their parents and dependents.
“They further confessed to being taken from Ebonyi, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, and Rivers States. Also, the Police Command is in collaboration with the Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare to make sure the girls are taken care of and safely returned to their parents/guardians.”
The Command had condemned the act and frowned at such persons who take advantage of vulnerable individuals to make money and describe such places as a den where criminals take refuge.
“We urge the good people of Anambra to continue to provide the police with information about such places as the joint operations to weed such harbour has commenced.”
“You are encouraged to call the Command Control Room number *07039194332* or PRO on *08039334002*. Be assured that all information passed through these channels shall be treated with the utmost confidentiality.”
“The case has since been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department Awka (SCID), for comprehensive investigation and shall be charged to court afterward.” He added
