By Boma Nwuke
On Saturday,29th October 2022, the Nigerian Navy in collaboration with the Nigeria Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC) raided two brothels on Port Harcourt where they rescued fifty commercial sex workers.
The rescued girls were mostly teenagers about the age 14 .
From the account of one of the girls who spoke to reporters, the girls were trafficked from the villages,far and near and forced into prostitution by wealth- seeking sex trafficking ring and handed to operators of filthy brothels , as slaves to randy and fun- seeking men who not only lust after the young girls but lost their souls towards the course of destroying the innocence of the young girls.
For the avoidance of doubt, the brothel market just as other illicit businesses boom as a result of unhindered progress in the supply chain.
Which is why the arrest of some recruiters and operators of the brothels by the joint security agencies is most welcome.
Similarly, the disclosure by the Navy Ship Pathfinder, Richard Iginla that efforts are ongoing to arrest leaders of the sex trafficking ring is also commendable as there is no reason to justify their indulgence in such evil trade in the first place.
When arrested, it is expected that the masterminds of this cruel act are given the punishment they deserve to serve as deterrent to others.
This is important as often times, agencies in charge of securing lives are pressured by very influential people in society to release criminals in their custody .
The traffickers of these teenage girls should not be left off the hook by no means if there is gain in restoring hope and confidence in young girls who aim to have unfettered access to rights and better life .
The UN Charter on Human Rights ( 1948),states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, religion, language,sex, political or other opinion, national or social origin, birth or other status.
What this implies is that the girl child has rights and freedoms to live a dignified life, not life in brothels, where the innocent experience debasement of womanhood.
Girls are doing a lot to effect change and drive good and growth around the world. They are thriving in leadership and in the world of Technology.
They are home makers, builders, and future mothers upon which generations of change makers or destroyers will be born.
UN Secretary – General, Antonio Guterres once said ” Now more than ever,we must renew our commitment to work together so that girls enjoy and exercise their rights and can play a full and equal part in their communities and societies. Investing in girls is investing in our common future”
Guterres statement is very clear to all to make wise choices for the girl child. It is equally food for thought for parents, community leaders and government officials to ruminate.
At a time efforts are directed towards wiping out social vices of this nature, some individuals are unrelenting in relegating women in their prime to the frontline of easy virtue even when guided by the consequences their action would bring.
The Port Harcourt brothels incident of teen sex workers is not in isolation of the booming teenage sex slave trade.
In September 2022, Police arrested two women in Agbado in Ogun State for operating a baby factory where they hired men to impregnate teenage girls after which the new born babies are sold to waiting buyers at very high prices.
Similar incidents have also been reported across the North and other Southern states in the country, but no one is sure if the offenders were prosecuted or they were simply given bail at the police stations to go home and sin no more.
At least, NAPTIP, a voice for those voiceless girls,, has assured that it will prosecute 4 traffickers arrested for using underage girls as sex workers.
Head of NAPTIP, Ikediachi Nwakama told reporters that the agency will not relent in ensuring that justice is served even as she urged parents to be vigilant when giving their children to caregivers. This is cheering.
At this point, it has become necessary to suggest that NAPTIP and other agencies such as National Orientation Agency and Ministries of Information across states should be strengthened, in whatever way to take the campaign against trafficking of children and teens to the grassroot.
They need to tell the people in the villages that there are people with sugar- coated mouth who would come promising jobs in urban areas but whose motives are impure .
While it is a relief that the rescue operation went smoothly as none of the girls reportedly died or injured, It is indeed a great relief that NAPTIP is set to rehabilitate the girls.
At this juncture,it is expedient to call on the government to promulgate and implement laws that check the practice of children being used as sex slaves.
While we applaud the closure of the two brothels ,Royal brothel and Cool breeze brothel involved in the teenage sex trade,we are convinced that other brothels or any hospitality facio involved in the act should be clamped down.
