By Uche Minikwu Jr. May 4,2019,news
CROSS RIVERS-The Department of State Security Service, DSS, Cross Rivers state chapter has arrested 43 girls who are commercial sex traders and 16 men. The state DSS Director, Mr Ilupeju Adebayo, who briefed newsmen earlier today (Saturday) in Calabar, hinted that the girls were rounded up at 2:15 a.m Saturday morning at Peace Garden Hotel and Papsi Place along Murtala Mohammed highway.
According to Mr. Adebayo, he noted: “There was a cartel responsible for luring the girls and making them swear oaths of secrecy not to abscond or divulge information about the business. “We got an intelligent report and swung into action, we have been on the matter for months. We discovered that the girls are mostly underage, mostly 13, 15, and 19 years of age. “We also know that they were brought in by a cartel, deeply involved in the business of trafficking and using the girls as commercial sex workers”
“The girls then bring returns to them at the beginning or close of the week depending on their modus operandi. “We have made some arrests including that of the owner of “Papsi place” a brothel that houses mostly underage girls who pay him N2, 000 on weekdays and N4, 000 at weekends as lodging fee. They operate from the hotel to clubs and have arrested them stark naked”
On whether the relevant agent would prosecute the matter, the DSS boss reiterated“ We have contacted the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons while investigations are ongoing until all those involved in the illicit trade are arrested and charged to court,’’
Meanwhile, one of the commercial sex workers, a girls, (name withheld) hinted tearfully: “I was brought to Calabar from Rivers for a sales girl job but ended up becoming a commercial sex worker. “I was brought to Calabar through a friend who told me that I will be given a job as a sales girl. She took me to a lady who I only call, as Aunty Favour.
“They took me to a brothel at Atamu Street, Calabar South, from where I used to attend night clubs. “I ran away and then they traced me and brought me back, they wanted to force me to take an oath but I objected and absconded again to meet my friend whom I came with to Calabar then”
“Aunty Favour came there with the boyfriend and some cult boys and beat me up. And told me that if I run they will kill me or I will die. “So, I usually go to her house to make returns to her every week but I am not happy with the kind of work I am doing; it was never my intentions to do this because my friend did not tell me that it was this kind of job,’’ she concluded
In the same vein. Mr. Edem John, one
of the prime suspects, who was among the 16 men in custody and owner of Papsi’s
Place, denied any wrongdoing, alleges that he has scolded the girls to desist from
his place for sex trading but they refused. Hear him: “I have been doing this
business for about two years; they pay me N2, 000 for the accommodation where
they have sex with men. “Although I have been warning the underage ones to stay
away from my place they still come back, and I need to do my business because I
have a family to feed,’’ he stressed.
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