Three teenagers narrate how they were trafficked to Ghana, forced into prostitution after taking oath – Newstrends
Connect with us

metro

Three teenagers narrate how they were trafficked to Ghana, forced into prostitution after taking oath

Published

4 years ago

on

Three teenagers from Ebonyi State have narrated how they were trafficked to Ghana, forced into prostitution after making them to take an oath at a shrine.

The victims, Ugochi Ojukwu, 17, Ogechi Ejiuwa, 17, Mesoma John,15, were allegedly abducted from their Akaeze community in the Ivo Local Government Area of the state, with one Ejiwa Ogbonnaya, 18, trafficked to Ghana for prostitution by two suspects, Ivi Chukwu Chinecherem, 20, and Ogbonna Justice,19.

Some police attached to Anti-Human Trafficking of the Ebonyi State Police Command arrested the two suspects after they allegedly tried to abduct another teenager, Faith Ogbonnaya.

The suspects, who were paraded by the state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, on Wednesday September 8, admitted to the crime and confessed that they trafficked the minors to Ghana without the consent of the parents.

The police succeeded in rescuing the victims while effort is on to rescue Ejiwa Ogbonnaya.

The suspects reportedly handed them over to a woman in Ghana who allegedly took them to a shrine where they were administered an oath not to run away from the country or else they would die.

After the oath, the woman reportedly gave them four men. The men had sex with them for three weeks while parents of the victims were looking for them and reported them missing from their community at Ivo police division.

Narrating their ordeal, one of the victims, Ogechi, said, “There is one boy in our place and he told me that he has a job. I asked him the type of work and he told me that he is serving somebody; that he was working at a beer parlour and I can sell drinks there.

“I said I am not interested and I can’t go with him for the business. I travelled, and at our place, he came back. He still met me and told me the same thing. I told him that I will tell my mum before I will follow him for the business.

“He told me that I should not let my parents know that if I told them, they would not allow me to go. He said if I told my parents he would ‘destroy’ me. It was at this point that I agreed to follow him and go.

“We left for Lagos that day from where he told us that we are going to Ghana. He told me and some other girls that were going with us that if we get to Ghana, we will start the business immediately and I said okay.

“When we got to Ghana, a woman there started telling us that we are going to sleep with some men. I told her no, that I can’t do such a thing. She said that I can’t go back to where she took me and that she has already paid my bride price and everything about me, so there was no more going back. She took us to a shrine and we took an oath and she threatened that we would die if we broke the oath.

“At that time, she gave us four men to sleep with us. When the four men started sleeping with us, I developed a stomach problem. While I was in Ghana, my mother started looking for me and reported to the police. The police later arrested the boy. The woman put us inside a bus and took us to Lagos where she abandoned us and ran away. We spent three weeks in Ghana.”

Another victim, Mmesoma, said four men slept with her for the three weeks they stayed in Ghana before their rescue.

 

Related Topics:
Advertisement

metro

No Sallah durbar festival in Kano this year – Police warn

Published

6 hours ago

on

March 28, 2025

By

No Sallah durbar festival in Kano this year – Police warn

There will be no Sallah Durbar celebrations in Kano during this year’s Eid-el-Fitr festivities, the state police command has said.

It cited security concerns and the need to prevent potential unrest as reasons for the ban announced on Friday ahead of the end of Ramadan fast festival holding on Sunday or Monday.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, announced the decision while addressing journalists at the Bompai Police Headquarters in Kano.

He said intelligence reports revealed plans by certain groups to use the Durbar to create instability.

“In pursuit of a safe and secure celebration, and to maintain peace and public order, the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has assessed the rising tensions and uncertainties surrounding the Durbar activities,” Bakori said.

“Following credible intelligence reports about plans to use the Durbar as a proxy for unrest, a ban has been placed on all Durbar activities throughout the state during the 2025 Eid-El-Fitr Sallah celebrations.”

The Police Commissioner emphasized that the decision was taken after extensive consultations with the Kano State Government and other key stakeholders.

The police command has urged worshippers to conduct their Eid prayers only at designated prayer grounds and to adhere to security guidelines.

Some of the restrictions in place outlined by CP Bakori include worshippers should avoiding carrying unnecessary objects that may cause suspicion., no horse riding (Kilisa), car racing, or reckless driving will be allowed, and parents and guardians must caution their children against involvement in disruptive activities.

He further warned that anyone caught violating these directives would face legal consequences.

Continue Reading

metro

We won’t stop Sharia panels from operating in Oyo – Gov Makinde

Published

15 hours ago

on

March 28, 2025

By

Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde

We won’t stop Sharia panels from operating in Oyo – Gov Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured Muslims in the state that he has no objections to the operation of Sharia panels, emphasizing that individuals are free to seek dispute resolution through them if they so wish.

Speaking at the 2025 Iftar event organized by the state government at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, Makinde clarified that he has no plans to challenge the legality of Sharia courts in the state. His comments were conveyed in a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju.

Earlier in the week, Dr. Rafiu Bello, Chairman of the Sharia Committee of Oyo Land, had confirmed that a Sharia panel had already been established in Oyo town and had begun sittings. This led to renewed discussions regarding the panel’s constitutionality.

In response, Makinde reiterated his stance that the Constitution remains the supreme authority in all legal matters while acknowledging the role of Sharia panels in alternative dispute resolution.

“I read in the newspaper that I would go to court for interpretation on the Sharia panel, which is ongoing in Oyo. That is not my position,” the governor stated. “My position is that we will support anything that is in our Constitution.”

READ ALSO:

Makinde explained that alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including the Sharia panel, could ease the burden on the courts, provided they do not conflict with constitutional provisions.

He further emphasized his administration’s commitment to maintaining religious harmony and unity in the state, cautioning against attempts to use religion for political gains.

“As we move towards the next election, there will be elements that only think about the next election. But what we have done in this administration is to think about the next generation,” he said.

The governor also used the occasion to appreciate the Muslim community for their support and prayers, acknowledging the contributions of religious leaders, lawmakers, and security agencies in fostering peace and development in Oyo State.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin (represented by Deputy Speaker Mohammed Fadeyi), and other key figures from the judiciary and legislative arms of government.

We won’t stop Sharia panels from operating in Oyo – Gov Makinde

Continue Reading

metro

EFCC re-arraigns son of ex-PDP chairman for alleged N2.2bn oil subsidy fraud

Published

15 hours ago

on

March 28, 2025

By

EFCC re-arraigns son of ex-PDP chairman for alleged N2.2bn oil subsidy fraud

Mamman Nasir Ali, the son of former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and one Christian Taylor were on Thursday rearraigned for an alleged N2.2 billion oil subsidy fraud before Justice Mojisola Dadap of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

They were re-arraigned alongside Nasaman Oil Services Limited on an amended 57-count charge, following new findings in the case.

The defendants had initially been arraigned on a 49-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and the use of false documents.

At the scheduled trial for the adoption of final written addresses on Wednesday, the prosecution counsel, Seiduh Atteh, informed the court of the amended charges and requested that the defendants take a fresh plea.

There was no objection from the defence counsel, Obafemi Kolade, SAN.

READ ALSO:

Consequently, the court granted the request.

The defendants, thereafter, pleaded “not guilty” to the amended charges preferred against them.

In the amended charge, the defendants, as well as Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul Afeez, who are both at large, allegedly “fraudulently obtained money from the Federal Government on or about September 9, 2011.”

The defendants also allegedly forged a document titled: “ GASOLINE ANALYSIS” on board MT Overseas Limar, purportedly issued by Saybolt Concremat on the said date.

Following the re-arraignment, Kolade requested time for the defence to amend its written address in response to the new charges.

Justice Dada directed the prosecution to file a response before the next hearing.

The case was adjourned till April 15, 2025 for the adoption of final written addresses.

EFCC re-arraigns son of ex-PDP chairman for alleged N2.2bn oil subsidy fraud

Continue Reading

Trending