By Correspondent in Lokoja
The Kogi State Government has vowed to clamp down on all the cartels behind the use of under aged girls for prostitution and sex slavery in Lokoja Local Government Area of the State.
A recent investigation conducted by
Wadata Media and Advocacy Center, Abuja, revealed that some girls were trafficked from the northern part of the country such as
Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Bauchi, and other neighbouring countries like Chad, Niger republic into Kasuwan-ruwa, a subub of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital for prostitution.
The centre reliably gathered that, in Kasuwan-ruwa, during the day, traders converge to sell yam, but at night it is otherwise.
More worrisome is that, the man who was alleged to be behind the trafficking of this girls( name withheld), gets the lion share from the girls after selling their bodies to customers who patronize them at night.
Further findings revealed that that the girls are either convinced to relocate to Lokoja with the hope that they will get jobs as promised by their master but later end up becoming prostitutes and sex slaves.
Residents of the community have continued to point fingers at some security agencies for aiding and abating this illegal business, which according to them has exposed the girl child to insecurity, psychological trauma, diseases after sleeping with men.
It is also learnt that some of this girls get pregnant on regular basis and late give birth, while those who could not carry the baby are compel to do abortion.
Looking at the lucrative nature of his illicit business, the suspect according to Wadata Media investigation, decided to open another branch of his business at
Saban zango, less than one kilometer to kabba junction within Okene-Lokoja-Abuja high way.
Reacting to the development, the Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development,Hajiya Fatima Kabir Buba, said all the perpetuators of this crime would be brought to book.
She described the crime as heinous, adding that the state government was not aware that such cartel was operating in the state, adding the “is against the provision of the child right act.”
While explaining further that the act was appalling, Hajia Buba noted that the State Government under Alhaji Yahaya Bello would not condole any act of human trafficking or sexual exploitations in the state.
” This government under Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello has left no stone unturned to protect the girl child and women in the state. We won’t allow any disgruntled elements to come here and sabotage the effort of his excellency.
“This is to total wickedness. How will someone who has conscience carry out such a heinous crime like this? With this illicit business, these girls will be denied the right to education, they would be expose to all manner of dangers and diseases.
” Am assuring the general public that this matter will not be swept under the carpet and will be investigated to a logical conclusion.
“Whoever is behind this, no matter how highly placed in the society, must face the full wrath of the law. Kogi State is not a safe haven for criminals, teenage prostitution, or sex slavery of any kind,” she further assured.
