The Anambra State Government issued a stern warning to brothel operators, urging them to cease employing underage girls or face legal consequences. Ify Obinabo, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, conveyed this message in Awka on Tuesday following the rescue of 12 girls from brothels in the state capital. The joint efforts of the ministry and the police led to the rescue of the girls, some of whom were as young as 15, during a raid at a guest house in Amawbia on June 18.
Obinabo emphasized the government’s commitment to eradicating child kidnapping, trafficking, and sexual slavery in the state. She revealed that three of the rescued girls were underage and had been trafficked from other states into Anambra. In light of this, brothel operators in Anambra were sternly warned to refrain from employing underage girls in their establishments or face legal consequences. The proprietor of the brothel has been arrested, and the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for thorough investigation.
The girls have been provided with medical examinations and treatment, and their families have been contacted. One of the rescued girls, aged 15, shared her harrowing experience with reporters. She disclosed that she was deceived by two women who promised her a sales job in Anambra but ended up transporting her to Awka for prostitution. Upon arrival, their belongings, including phones, were confiscated, and they were handed over to another woman who acted as their madam. This woman informed them that they would not be released until they paid her N150,000 each or served her for one year. They were instructed to collect between N10,000 and N15,000 each night and N40,000 every Sunday, with customers paying N1,000 per session.
Due to their inability to meet the specified sums, conflicts arose between the victims and their madam. To seek help, they utilized a whistleblower’s phone to contact their families, who subsequently alerted the ministry and the police. The mother of the 15-year-old girl had already filed a complaint at a police station in Abakaliki when her daughter failed to return home. She expressed gratitude to the commissioner and the police for their swift response and diligent efforts.
