We were sold for N350,000 each – Victims of human trafficking cry out

By Alex Olise

A victim of human trafficking, Victoria Oyoke, aged 19 narrated how three of them were sold for the sum of 500.000 cfa franc each to another trafficker in Cotonou the Benin Republic capital.

The three victims were deceived from Benin, the Edo state capital to Lagos before heading to Cotonou through the connection of one Maxwell who tricked them to Cotonou before selling them off to another woman for the sum of 500.000 cfa franc each (500,000 cfa is equivalent of N350 ,000).

The revelation came on Thursday during the parade of a suspected trafficker and four victims who were rescued by the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Lagos command.

Addressing the media, Commandant of the NSCDC, Lagos command, Lagos State command, Cyprian Otoibhi, said his men apprehended the suspects on the 15th of January, 2020 at about 9.20 am at Abule Oki, Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos State.

The suspect who is the ring leader of the trafficking deal, Omowunmi Michael, 30, had planned to traffick Aloaye Joy aged 22,Victoria Oshioke 19, Amaka Eze 23 and Anuoluwapo Mustapha 26 all were set to go to Mali for Prostitution before the plan was busted by NSCDC operatives who acted swiftly based on intelligence report.

Confiance News gathered from an interview with Michael that she had traveled to Mali where she spent two years before joining prostitution which made it for her to be involved in trafficking.

Another victim Amaka Eze, aged 18, who hail from Anambra state, said she was determined to travel to Mali before the plan was scuttled by NSCDC Lagos operatives .

“I was ready to travel for prostitution in Mali and I agree to pay Omowunmi and the real trafficker any amount they charged me abroad what I want is just to go out of Nigeria due to the economic hardship here in Nigeria.

Earlier, the operatives of the NSCDC had launched a manhunt on one of the ring leaders and a boyfriend of one of the victims named Favour.

The said Favour was the one who paid their transport from Benin, Edo State to Lagos down to Mali through the help of Omowunmi who is their contact person in Lagos.

The commandant, in an interview with journalists, urged parents to always ensure they know what their children are doing.

He explained that the dangers of human trafficking cannot be overemphasized and enjoined members of the public to report such cases to appropriate authorities.

“The command will continue to ensure a crime free Lagos and that the suspects as well the victims will be handed over to the relevant agencies further investigation and prosecution,” he assured.