The Ogun State Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Abosede Jimoh, has decried the rapid rise of human trafficking in the state, stressing that it has received no fewer than 100 victims and 70 suspects from late 2023 till date.
Jimoh noted these victims were lured under the disguise of work and used for sexual exploitation, lamenting that some of the rescued underaged victims confessed to sleeping with not less than 15 to 20 men on daily basis and sometimes with animals.
She spoke on Wednesday at a sensitization program organized by the State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in collaboration with Police Officer Wives Association in Ogun state, on human trafficking and irregular migration held at Lafenwa market, Abeokuta.
The NAPTIP Commander disclosed that in recent times, aside under age children, women have also fell victim to this menace and are being transported to Cairo.
Jimoh stated that when these victims are received by the agency, they are counseled, taken to the hospital for medical checkups, empowered and re-integrated into the society.
“Victims are being moved from one place to another. It could be from village to rural setting, from rural to urban areas and by extension outside the country, for what? For sexual exploitation.
“They were not only made to sleep with men, they were made to sleep with animals. That was why NATIP also came into Ogun State two and a half years ago and ever since we came on board, we have received not less than 70 suspects of human trafficking and not less than 100 victims of human trafficking.
“Imagine a girl that is supposed to be in school and you know they are used, they are future leaders of the world. She is made to sleep with 20 men on a daily basis. It’s not a fiction. We are receiving cases like that on a daily basis, we have nine cases in court. We have prosecuted three and we have gotten conviction in three cases while others are under investigation,” she added.
Speaking earlier, Chairperson of Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), Ogun State Chapter, Mrs Olubusola Lanre-Ogunlowo, reiterated the association’s commitment to promoting opportunities for women and youth through empowerment and skills training.
Mrs Ogunlowo urged the market women and members of the community to be vigilant and report any unusual movements to the right channel.
