The Bayelsa Command of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Monday said that it has handed over a girl child trafficking syndicate to National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)

Mr Godwin Nwachukwu, State Commandant of NSCDC in Bayelsa said in Yenagoa said the command also handed two minors trafficked by the suspect who were rescued by the Command.

Nwachukwu said that a raid of the suspect’s hideout on May 15 led to the arrest of the principal suspect, Mrs Joy Victor, 27 and two female victims aged 16 and 17 who were trafficked to Ghana for prostitution.

He said that investigations by NSCDC revealed that the syndicate had lured the victims with job offers to work in Ghana as sales girls but forced them into sex slavery on arrival.

The minors, according to the NSCDC Chief were freed and deported to Nigeria by Ghanaian Police but they remained in the custody syndicate

Giving an update on the incident, the Commandant said NSCDC had concluded its investigations and handed the case to NAPTIP officials for prosecution on May 24, 2018.

“The Corps after series of investigations finally handed over the suspect and two minors to the National Agency for the prohibition of trafficking in person and other related offences (NAPTIP) on May 24, 2018, for further investigation and prosecution.

“Mr. Fan David, a representative of the Zonal Director NAPTIP from the agency’s Zonal Headquarters Uyo received the suspect and the two minors.

“The NAPTIP official commended the NSCDC for the feat and commitment to ensuring that this illicit syndicate was arrested and brought to justice.

“We will continue to contribute our quota in ensuring that crime and criminality are brought down to the barest minimum and will ensure that this prosecution of offenders is taken to logical conclusion.

“Our commitment to assisting NAPTIP towards the fight against trafficking of the girl child and other related offences in Bayelsa and Niger Delta region remains total and we envisage closer ties with NAPTIP,” Nwachukwu said.

He said that Bayelsa chapter of Association for Awareness Against Anti-Social Behaviour (AFAAAB) had informed the NSCDC to the activities of the suspected human traffic syndicate in Igbogene area of Yenagoa.

Nwachukwu who gave accolades to the group advised members of the public to emulate the civil society group by providing timely information to security agencies to enable them nip crime in the bud

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