NSCDC arrests suspected human traffickers, secondary school cult members in Ondo 

THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Command, has apprehended two suspected human traffickers: Mrs. Rose Ojeme and Mrs. Susan John, eight secondary school culti members and one alleged rapist in the state.

The state Commandant, Adeyinka Ayinla, who paraded the suspects yesterday in Akure, said the arrests were made possible due to intelligence information.

Adeyinka disclosed that the two suspected human traffickers were arrested at a hotel in Akure, the alleged rapist was nabbed on the run after committing the crime, while the suspected cult members were apprehended at their meeting point. He added that the duo would be handed over to the appropriate authorities while the cult members and the rapist would be taken to court for prosecution.

According to Ayinla, the two human traffickers were in the business of bringing under-aged girls into the state for prostitution, under the pretext of engaging them in legitimate work.

“The two teenagers (16 and 17 years old), who were brought from Akwa Ibom State last week, were locked up in different rooms by these traffickers and allowed various men, who might have paid the alleged criminals, to have carnal knowledge of them.”

One of the rescued teenagers explained that five men had sex with her daily but the money is usually given to Mrs. Ojeme. “We followed a friend to Akure from Akwa Ibom State on the promise to be working in a supermarket but we were lured into prostitution on getting here after locking us up. Six men would have sex with me everyday. Last Friday, six men slept with me and N6,000 was paid to madam while on Saturday, five men had sex with me and N7,000 was given to madam,” she said.

Giving an account of how a 15-year-old minor was repeatedly raped by her cousin, Monday Jacob, a commercial motorcyclist, aged 30, the NSCDC boss decried negligence on the part of some parents and guardians, urging them to caution their wards and pay keen attention to their daily activities.