Navy raids brothels, rescues 50 girls in Rivers

The Nigeria Navy has rescued 50 teenage girls and arrested three suspected sex traffickers during a major raid on two brothels in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Base Information Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Lt.-Cdr. Richard Iginla, paraded the suspects and victims before journalists on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

Iginla said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Nigeria Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

According to him, the girls were rescued in the early hours of Saturday after a tip-off from NAPTIP.

The Navy officer said: “We got the intelligence from NAPTIP, who had been tracking the brothels that camped juveniles with some of them as young as 14 years of age.

“So, after NAPTIP shared intelligence with us, a joint team was set up and we immediately went into action to rescue the victims.

READ ALSO: Nigerians among 64 people rescued from sex trafficking, forced labour in Mali

“At least 50 young girls forced into prostitution were rescued while three recruiters and operators of the brothels were arrested.”

Iginla said the facilities – Royal Brothel and Cool Breeze Brothel both located on Azikiwe Road in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt had been shut down.

He said that efforts had been intensified to arrest the leaders of the sex trafficking ring who recruits children from villages into prostitution.

He added: “Children are gifts from God, and we must do everything humanly possible to protect them from all forms of abuse and exploitation.

“The Nigeria Navy will continue to collaborate with relevant agencies to bring to justice criminal elements that traffic persons either on land or through the waterways.

“On conclusion of our investigation, the suspects and victims will be handed over to NAPTIP for further investigation and possible prosecution.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now