Sixteen sex workers were taken into custody on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, from the Railway Line Hotel, which is situated along Old Bank Road in Ifo when members of the Ogun State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, raided a brothel in the state’s Ifo Local Government Area.
The girls, aged 12 to 29, taken to custody includes Annabelle Udo, Ubong Rejoice, Edaefe Sharon, Godwin Bassey, Okon Lovett, Eden Miracle, Monday Angel, Marvelous Samuel, Edet Nice, and Asukwo Gift, Effiong Joy, Effiong Blessing, Asukwo Faith, UK Saviour, Andrew Ella, and Eden Jo.
Commander Alade Adedigba, the state commandant of the corps, paraded the girls in front of reporters at the corps’ headquarters in Abeokuta. He claimed the raid was carried out at approximately 6:15 am on Wednesday in response to an intelligence report that was received on Saturday.
Fourteen of the girls were trafficked from Akwa Ibom, according to the commandant, while the remaining girls were from Delta and Cross River states.
The Commander stated, “We received intelligence reports on the 8th of this month, and based on that, we have been processing the intelligence. At about 6:15 am today, we were able to arrest 16 of them, ranging between 12 and 29 years of age.
“They were all arrested at a venue, Railway Line Hotel, Old Bank Bus Stop, in Ifo town. The main suspect is Mrs Eden Joy. She was the one who trafficked all these individuals, but in her statement, she mentioned that the owner of the hotel, one Mrs Okutoro Yemisi, aged 60, is her boss.
“These victims also made us understand that most of the tissue paper used by customers is usually kept and handed over to the trafficker for some other purposes.
“So, for those who patronise individuals like this, you need to be very careful of your own safety and security.”
The commander claims that the girls admitted during questioning that they felt helpless to flee since they were forced to take an oath while nude and with portions of their hair chopped for ritual purposes when they were taken from their different places to Ifo.
According to one of the girls, she had sex with as many as ten men in one day. She further disclosed that they give the madam, who solely purchases meals for them, anything they had made.
Commander said a total of N819,600 was found, along with packs of tissue paper, energy enhancers, a box of condoms, and other pharmaceuticals.
The girls would be sent to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons(NAPTIP), for additional examination, he continued.