A 14-year-old survivor of sex trafficking in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State has shared her traumatic experience, revealing that she was forced to sleep with 10 to 12 men daily while held captive in a sex trafficking camp. The young girl, a native of Akwa Ibom State, was trafficked to Ogun State on January 29, 2024, under the false pretence of working as a salesgirl.
The Ogun State Amotekun Corps rescued the teenager and 13 other victims during a raid on a sex trafficking camp located at the Railway Line Hotel along the old bank road in Ifo. The operation, conducted at approximately 6:15 am on Wednesday, led to the arrest of 15 suspects, including the alleged ringleader, Idem Joy.
The victims, aged between 12 and 39, were reportedly trafficked from Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Delta states. Items recovered from the camp included N819,600 in cash, various drugs, cartons of condoms, energy enhancers, lubricants, and packs of tissue paper.
According to the Corps Commandant, Brigadier General Alade Adedigba (retd.), the survivors disclosed that they were coerced into taking oaths to prevent them from escaping or reporting their ordeal. The oaths involved traumatic rituals, including being stripped naked, having their hair cut for alleged ritual purposes, and, in some cases, having their blood collected.
The 14-year-old survivor, a Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) dropout, told this Newspaper that she was lured to Ogun State with the promise of working as a salesgirl. Upon arrival, she was forced into prostitution and given drugs to prepare her for the work.
“They did not tell me this is what I would be doing. They only told me I would be a salesgirl. I came with my friend, Glory, but she works at another hotel,” she said. “On getting here, I was given some drugs to take before I started the work. She (Idem Joy) cut some hair from my head, saying whenever I ran, she would use my hair to kill me.”
The survivor revealed that she earned between N1,000 and N2,000 per customer, making up to N20,000 daily. “I sleep with 10 to 12 men a day,” she added.
A 17-year-old survivor, also rescued during the raid, shared a similar experience. She was trafficked to Ogun State on November 7, 2024, and forced to swear an oath while standing naked on a Bible. She was told she would regain her freedom after one year of service.
“I don’t know the woman before; I was brought to the state by her sister named Favour. It was when we arrived in Ogun State that she told me what the work was all about,” the 17-year-old said. “She cut my hair, and I stood naked on a Bible to swear an oath. For some of us, she used cotton wool to clean our private parts so that we couldn’t run away.”
The teenager disclosed that she was paid between N1,000 and N5,000 per customer, with all earnings handed over to her traffickers. “Sometimes I have 10 customers per day. When I’m paid after sex, I give her all the money. I just want to go back,” she cried.
Brigadier General Adedigba condemned the heinous activities of the traffickers and assured the public that the suspects would face the full wrath of the law. He also called for increased vigilance and collaboration to combat human trafficking in the state.
The rescued survivors are currently receiving medical and psychological support as authorities work to reunite them with their families.
This incident highlights the urgent need for stronger measures to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals, particularly young girls, from falling victim to such exploitation.
