The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Oyo State has arrested four people suspected of human trafficking and rescued nine individuals forced into prostitution.
NSCDC Commandant in the state, Augustine Padonu, announced these developments while presenting the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Ibadan on Friday.
Padonu said the arrests and rescues took place on Tuesday at a hotel in the Apata area of Ibadan. The Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit of the NSCDC apprehended the suspects and rescued seven adult females and two minors.
“The Oyo State Command of NSCDC has made a significant breakthrough in its fight against human trafficking and smuggling of petroleum products,” Padonu said. “This demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals, especially children, from exploitation and abuse as well as safeguarding the nation’s economy from illegal activities.”
Padonu explained that three of the suspects were involved in bringing underage girls from villages for prostitution, while the fourth suspect, a male hotel manager, worked with the women to use the trafficked girls as sex workers.
In a related operation, the NSCDC also recovered 55 30-litre kegs of smuggled petrol around Gwagwasu Moore Road in Kishi. The commandant said the discovery came after the monitoring team received intelligence about the smuggling on July 30.
Padonu noted, “During the operation, we found the petrol hidden in a forest. The smuggling of petroleum products undermines the economy and poses risks to public safety.”
The suspects involved in petrol smuggling escaped when they saw NSCDC operatives. The commandant urged the public to report any information about petrol smuggling to the NSCDC.
“We are intensifying our efforts to locate and apprehend the suspects,” Padonu said. “NSCDC remains committed to protecting vulnerable individuals, especially children, from exploitation and abuse, and we will continue to act decisively to safeguard our nation’s resources.”
One of the rescued underage victims shared her experience, saying, “I was pregnant and used to make N10,000 daily. However, I only received N2,000 from one of the suspects who brought me from my village.”
