A video depicting teenage girls reportedly trafficked to Ghana for prostitution has surfaced online, sparking criticism from social media users.
The video, uploaded by Pastor Okezie, shows approximately eight young girls who claim they were lured to Ghana by a man, who is allegedly the brother of one of the girls.
They reported being exploited as “money-making machines” by their trafficker, who confiscated all the money they earned from prostitution.
The girls, aged 16 and below, detailed their harrowing experiences and appealed for help.
In response to the video, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has initiated a thorough investigation into it.
NAPTIP Spokesman Vincent Adekoye confirmed the agency’s awareness of the situation and announced that an investigation had commenced.
“The Agency has commenced a full-scale investigation following the directive of the DG to ascertain the location of the victims, any contact number, and other details that will aid our swift intervention towards rescuing them. The agency has also opened discussions with relevant partners in Ghana on the matter,” Adekoye stated.
“NAPTIP is seriously disturbed by the video and shall do everything within its mandate to respond to their demands and bring their traffickers to justice. We solicit useful information from all stakeholders on the matter,” Adekoye added.
This incident follows a recent case in May, where the Edo Zonal command of NAPTIP arrested a fake Reverend sister over the alleged trafficking of 38 children in Delta State.
The suspect, Ikejimba Maryvianney (alias Oluchi), and an accomplice, Chidera, who is currently at large, allegedly convinced parents to hand over their children under the pretence of providing better care at an orphanage.
The children were handed over to the suspects at a farm community in Enugu-Awka camp by Monastery, Ilah, Delta State.
Maryvianney was apprehended by NAPTIP following a tip-off.
NAPTIP’s zonal commander in Benin, Nduka Nwanwenne, confirmed the arrest and stated that the suspect claimed to have been trained in Ghana as a reverend sister, with their headquarters in the Philippines.
