NSCDC Arrests Suspected Human Trafficker in Ekiti

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has arrested a 41-year- old man, Mr. Jude Nwanokwara, in connection with alleged human trafficking and rape cases.

The state chairman of the NSCDC, Mr. Solomon Iyamu, disclosed this in Ado Ekiti yesterday when the International Federation of Women Lawyers paid a courtesy visit on his office in Ado Ekiti.

The FIDA’s delegation was led by the Ekiti State Branch Chairperson, Mrs. Adefunke Anoma, who described the trends of human trafficking and rape in Ekiti State as becoming alarming, and require special attentions.

Iyamu hinted the FIDA on the recent cases of rape of a 9 –year- old by an 18 –year- boy and a case of one Jude, a suspected leader of a human trafficking gang in Ado Ekiti , who had succeeded in trafficking six ladies from Ekiti about three weeks ago before they escaped and ran back to the state.

Iyamu said the NSCDC is ready to coalesce efforts with FIDA to fight the scourges and make Ekiti safe for residents and unsuspected members of the public.

He said Jude has been transferred to National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Human Persons (NAPTIP) for prosecution.

Responding to the incident, FIDA chairperson vowed that she was interested in prosecuting the recently arrested suspects of human trafficking, and rape which are still in the custody of the NSCDC in the state.

One of the victims, Blessing Jubril , narrated to our correspondent how she was allegedly tricked by Jude who took them out of the state with a claim that he was taking them to Lagos to work in an Hotel in Lagos as Hotel attendants

.Blessing stated further that they were surprised to be told when they got to Lagos that they were to be redeployed to another country to work in other branches of their Hotel across the country, adding that Jude thereafter called other man who put four of them in a vehicle going to Cotonou while she and the other persons were put in another vehicle going to Senegal.

She stated further that she and the other ladies decided to disembark on the journey after they got to Senegal and were told that they were still going to another country again from there, adding that the call they received from the other four who were taken to Cotonou that they were going through hell over there.

“We were afraid and we suspected they want to use us for ritual, that is how we ran away and sold our phones to transport ourselves to Lagos, from where I now looked for money to return to Ado Ekiti” Blessing stated.

But Mr. Jude who also spoke with our correspondent said he was only trying to help the victims to secure better jobs outside the country, saying he has assisted a lot of Nigerians to get better jobs in countries like, Ghana Togo, Cotonou, among others.

The FIDA boss said : ‘’As youths, you should ensure that their environment is safe, you should try as much as possible to ensure that the rights of others are not infringed upon, for instance, most of the time people think that it is only offenders and criminals that are in the prison, but experience has shown that for doing
nothing, you could end up in prison, and that is why we are appealing to you all to be mindful of the kinds of friends you keep, the kinds of group, or associations you go about with.”