Lagos State
Police Command has arrested a two man
human trafficking syndicate who specialises in recruiting teenage girl from Rivers, Imo and Akwa-Ibom States for prostitution.
The victims
were said to have been recruited from their villages with a promise of a better
life and were also taken to a shrine where they were forced to take oath of
secrecy.
CP Imohimi
who paraded the suspects at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja disclosed that
the suspects were arrested on July 1st 2018 at about 2pm.
“The Command
received information that one Ikechkwu Egbulefu
and Vera John are onto human trafficking business. They bring girls
from Imo, Akwa-Ibom and Rivers States to
Lagos State for prostitution.
” On the
strength of the information, FSARS operatives were directed to investigate and
arrest the suspects involved. Investigation led to the arrest of the suspects
and rescue of some of the victims of human trafficking.
” The victims
confessed that the suspects lured them to Lagos with a promise of various jobs
and better living. They also narrated how they were taken to a shrine in
Epe-Ijebu and were made to swear an oath that they would not abscond from the
hotel.
” The painful
aspect of the whole matter was that after sleeping with various men, they surrender the proceeds to Vera John.” CP
Imohinmi stated.
The suspects,
Ikechkwu Egbulefu and Vera John, our
reporter learnt are lovers and were arrested at their hideout at Wagbas Hotel
in Ajah area of Lagos where they also
camp the girls as sex slaves who deliver nothing less than #20,000 to Vera
after sleeping with at least ten men daily.
Vera John,
one of the suspects who initially denied using the girls as sex workers
explained to have met Helen Dickson through Ikechukwu her lover and partner in
crime.
“I met Helen
two months ago after my lover Ikechukwu introduced her to me. I asked her if
she has been briefed about the work she wants to engage in and she said yes. I
asked her how much Ikechukwu told her she will be paid, she said N400,000. I however promised that if
she performs better with customers, I will pay her up to one million naira.
“She has
worked for two months, in the morning after their return I take the money from
them when they go to work overnight and return in the morning because they pay
N20, 000 for the four rooms while they spend N1,800 on food.
Responding to
a question, Vera said she is also a commercial sex worker and does not know how
many men they sleep with daily.
“I am also a
sex worker and we live in a hotel were
we usually stand in front of the hotel and men come and make their choice. it
is usually in the morning that they handover their proceeds from the previous
day.
“It was when
we were not having enough patronage that I took the girls to a native doctor to
make charms for us so that men can patronise us. I didn’t do it to exploit
them.
“The native
doctor asked us to bring soap,he requested for their pubic hair and hair from
their head. But they discovered that Chinwendu had shaved her pubic hair and so
can’t participate in the rites. The other two participated used hairs from their
private with a soap to prepare a concoction.
He told them to bath with the soap which will make them more attractive
to make customers.”
Ikechukwu the
male suspect confessed that the plan was to settle the girls after one year and
travel abroad with whatever he is able to gather from the business.
“I brought
these girls to Lagos for prostitution. I knew Helen in Port Harcourt, she told
me that her mother chased her away from home and that she needs a place to
sleep. I bought food for her to eat.
” I told her
that I will take her to Lagos where she can stay and start working. That was
how she came to Lagos and I took her to my girlfriend Vera who kept her in a
hotel for prostitution. We had plans to settle the girls after one year and I
also wanted to travel out.”
Helen, one of
the sex workers explained that her mother had chased her out of the house after
attending an all night party.
“I had known
Ik in Port Harcourt, so I told him about
my ordeal. He agreed to help saying he
will take me to Lagos to work in a boutique,
which I agreed.
” When we got
to Lagos, he took me to Madam Vera who
then told me it was prostitution I had come me to do. I didn’t have an option because I couldn’t go
back to port Harcourt because I didn’t have money on me. I stayed and started work. I was taken to a native doctor where we swore
an oath of loyalty and secrecy.
” I slept
with at least 10 men a day. each was
paying N4,000. I have been working for
her for two months now.” Helen narrated.
Three
victims, Helen Dickson (22yrs), Debora David (18yrs), and
Chinwendu
Oyekachi (18yrs) were all rescued at the
hotel.
The
Commissioner of Police said the suspects will be charged to court at the
completion of investigation.
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