Victim Rescued from Katsina Hotel Alleges Daily Exploitation by 20 Men
Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Katsina State Command, have arrested three suspected members of an interstate human trafficking syndicate allegedly involved in the recruitment, harboring, and sexual exploitation of young women trafficked from various parts of Nigeria to the North.
The arrests were made during a sting operation at a well-known hotel in Katsina township, where three victims were rescued. According to a statement released by the agency’s spokesperson, Vincent Adekoye, the hotel manager and two employees were also taken into custody in connection with the incident.
The rescued victims—two from Benue State and one from Rivers State—are between the ages of 21 and 26. Preliminary investigations suggest the suspects are part of a larger network believed to supply young women to brothels and other illicit establishments, including some in neighboring countries.
According to NAPTIP, the victims were discovered in a cramped room within the hotel complex, while the traffickers were found in a separate, well-furnished room, reportedly enjoying the proceeds of the exploitation.
Reacting to the development, NAPTIP Director-General Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi (or Binta Bello, if the original name stands) condemned the role of hospitality establishments that knowingly accommodate trafficking operations. She vowed that the hotel involved will face legal sanctions under Nigeria’s anti-human trafficking laws.
“I commend the operatives in Katsina for the successful rescue operation,” she said. “These victims were deceived, trafficked, and forced into prostitution. Meanwhile, their exploiters lived in comfort off their suffering, right under the same roof.”
She reiterated NAPTIP’s earlier warning to hotel operators and similar establishments against facilitating or turning a blind eye to trafficking activities, stating that legal proceedings have already begun to determine the next enforcement steps against the hotel.
The DG also recalled her recent directive to NAPTIP commands across Nigeria to intensify intelligence gathering and surveillance, particularly around hotels, bars, and motor parks, in a bid to curb interstate trafficking operations.
One of the rescued victims (name withheld), during interrogation, recounted the traumatic ordeal. She revealed they were lured to Katsina under false pretenses of securing well-paying jobs, only to be coerced into sex work.
“I was brought here by a woman who promised us good jobs. When I asked for details, she said I’d find out when I got here. On arrival, we were forced into prostitution,” she said.
She further revealed the grim reality of their daily experience: “We were made to sleep with at least 20 men every day, and all the money went to a woman known as Amarachi, the 'chairlady.' Even when we were sick, menstruating, or exhausted, they still forced us to work. They didn’t care about our health.”
According to the victim, they were given Fearless energy drinks each evening to keep them awake and active for their “clients,” with traffickers confiscating all earnings while leaving them to fend for themselves. Security men were reportedly hired to monitor and prevent any escape attempts.
Grateful for their rescue, the victims expressed appreciation to NAPTIP and called for justice against those responsible for their ordeal.
0 Comments