About 50 under aged girls have been rescued by operatives from Police tactical units led by National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, on Saturday, in Diobu axis of Rivers State.
Africa Update gathered from multiple sources that the girls were reportedly working as prostitutes at three brothels situated at Azikiwe street, Mile two Diobu in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the State.
In an operation that lasted for more than one hour, security operatives had arrested the underaged girls and their madams who use them for the illegal business.
When contacted the Head of NAPTIP in Rivers state, Mrs. Nwa-amaka Ikediashi, while confirming the arres said investigation has commenced and the findings will be made public. Meanwhile, in collaboration with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and NAPTIP, the Nigeria Navy on Sunday, paraded the underaged girls and the three others suspected to be the mastermind behind the illicit business.
Addressing newsmen, Base Information Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Lt.-Cdr. Richard Iginla , 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. No fewer than 50 young girls forced into prostitution were rescued while three recruiters and operators of the brothels were arrested.”
