In a recent incident that took place on June 18th, a raid was conducted at a brothel in Awka, where Ify Obinabo, the commissioner for women and social welfare in Anambra, claimed to have rescued 12 girls involved in “prostitution.” The fight against underage prostitution in Anambra State has intensified as Ify Obinabo, in collaboration with the state police command, launched another raid on a brothel allegedly used for harbouring underage girls for prostitution and child trafficking.
The motivation behind this action was a viral video circulating on social media that exposed a brothel operated by a woman known as “Madam Venza,” allegedly involved in the illegal activities of sheltering underage girls for prostitution and child trafficking.
Upon arriving at the facility located in Umuagu Umuogali, Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area, the government officials and security personnel discovered that all the occupants had fled, apparently aware that the viral video could attract the attention of law enforcement.
Despite the absence of the suspects, Commissioner Ify Obinabo and her team conducted a thorough search of the brothel. She emphasized the unwavering determination to combat underage prostitution in Anambra, assuring the public that measures are being taken to apprehend the operators of the brothel and rescue the girls in their care.
Obinabo expressed deep concern over the prevalence of child prostitution, trafficking, and sexual slavery in the state. She affirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to minimizing such acts through ongoing efforts.
Although the suspect could not be apprehended during the raid, plans are underway, with the assistance of the police and vigilantes, to capture her and rescue the girls under her custody.
“The alarming rate of child prostitution, trafficking, and sexual slavery in our state is distressing. The state government will persist in its efforts until these abhorrent acts are significantly reduced,” she added.
Anambra State has unfortunately gained notoriety as a hub for traffickers, sexual slavery, and child trafficking. This raises questions about the underlying conditions that compel its citizens to willingly participate in such illicit activities—is it due to the dire circumstances they face, or is it driven by sheer greed?
Commissioner Ify Obinabo has consistently demonstrated her effectiveness in addressing such issues, conducting numerous successful raids and rescuing several girls. However, given the prevalence of such establishments in the state, it is imperative for the state government to wage a full-scale war against such enterprises by imposing stringent penalties on offenders.
