By Sunday Apah
In Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, the Nigeria Police Force has apprehended 23 teenagers and 13 others on suspicions of child prostitution and human trafficking. The arrests were made on 15/7/2024 after the Command received credible information regarding the activities of an individual known as Chinyere, who specializes in trafficking women from the East to Ughelli, Delta State, for purposes of prostitution.
SP Bright Edafe, the State Police Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in a press statement. He mentioned that intelligence indicated that Chinyere deceives the victims by promising them jobs as salesgirls in restaurants in Delta State.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, who has a strong stance against human/child trafficking, assigned DPO Ekpan CSP Aliyu Shaba to act promptly on the gathered intelligence to locate the hotel and apprehend the suspect.
On 15/07/2024 around 1900hrs, one victim (name withheld) was found, and she exposed the illicit activities of Chinyere, who is currently evading capture. The victim revealed that she was falsely promised a salesgirl position in a bar with a monthly salary of #30,000 after being deceived by the suspect to travel from Abia State to Delta State.
Upon arrival in Ughelli on 12/07/2024, the victim and two other girls discovered the true intentions of the suspect when they encountered other naked teenagers at their destination. They were informed that they were brought for prostitution, a revelation they rejected, resulting in their immediate expulsion from the hotel.
“Based on the information provided, a joint surveillance team conducted a raid on the ‘Big Dafe Hotel’ located on Ughelli/Patani Road. During the operation, they arrested Chioma Edafe, a 36-year-old woman from Umuogbezea Community in Imo State, who manages the hotel, along with thirty-five others. Among those arrested, twenty-three are teenagers.
