Okonkwo Samuel
Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria – In a daring operation conducted by the Anambra State Police Command, nine young girls between the ages of 15 and 23 were rescued from a hotel in Awka, where they were being held as sex slaves. The proprietor of the hotel was apprehended during the operation. The rescue mission took place on the evening of 18th June 2023.
The Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare provided information that led to the successful operation. The rescued girls, in their subsequent interrogations, disclosed that they were lured to the brothel with promises of job opportunities that would help alleviate poverty for themselves and their families. They further revealed that they had been taken from various states, including Ebonyi, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, and Rivers.
The Anambra State Police Command, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, is taking all necessary steps to ensure the well-being of the rescued girls. Efforts are being made to safely reunite them with their parents or guardians. The Command strongly condemned the heinous act and expressed its disapproval of those who exploit vulnerable individuals for personal gain. The authorities are treating the hotel as a den for criminals, and joint operations to eradicate such establishments have commenced.
The police urge the people of Anambra State to report any similar establishments or suspicious activities to the Command Control Room at *07039194332* or the Public Relations Officer (PRO) at *08039334002*. The police assure the public that all information provided through these channels will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Awka for a thorough investigation. Following the completion of the investigation, the suspects involved will be charged to court.
DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Anambra State Police Command, issued this statement on 19th June 2023, emphasizing the commitment of the police force to combatting such criminal activities and seeking the cooperation of the public in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
