A recent investigation conducted by Wadata Media and Advocacy Center, Abuja, has exposed a flourishing centre in Lokoja, Kogi state capital, where young girls are subjected to sex slavery.
The sex trade centre, Kasuwan-ruwa, is located opposite the popular International Market in Lokoja. During day time, the area is busy with business activities, especially yam sellers. The area is a popular yam market in the city. However, after sunset, the area turns to ‘sex market’ where teenage prostitution and outright sex slavery thrives.
The real name of the man behind the criminal centre is yet unknown as at the time of filing this report but everyone around there call him Small Lusher.
Small Lusher, the man behind the trafficking of these girls, gets the lion share from whatever the teenage prostitutes make from customers who patronize them at night.
Wadata Media investigation revealed that Small Lusher has opened another branch of his business at Sabon Zango, less than one kilometer to Kabba junction, along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja high way.
Recruitment
Investigations revealed that many of the girls were trafficked from Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto and Bauchi states and other neighbouring countries like Chad, Niger Republic into Kasuwan-ruwa, a suburb of Lokoja, for prostitution.
Small Lusher travels by himself to these far Northern Nigerian states to recruit young girls for his business.
Findings revealed that that the girls are either convinced to relocate to Lokoja with the hopes that they will get jobs, as promised by Small Lusher, but later end up becoming a prostitute and sex slave.
When he approach some of his prospects, he pretends to toast them with prospects of an amorous relationship. When the girl give in to his overtures, he invites her to visit him in Lokoja. We gathered reliably that he send this girls transport fares to visit him in Lokoja.
Also, some of the girls confirmed that they were invited to join the business by girls who are already in the centre. They assure them of making enough money to keep body and soul together.
Residents Complain
Residents in the area complain about the age-range of girls the centre use for sex trade. They also express worries about the security risk the centre pose to the area as rough-looking guys keep coming in and out of the centre.
When Wadata Media and Advocacy Center visited the hideous centre during the cause of investigation, some young men, smoking weed, were heard talking about how some persons were kidnapped from their Sabon Zango branch.
A woman, who spoke with the Wadata Media and Advocacy Center team, expressed sadness over the condition of the girls used as sex slaves in Kasuwan-ruwa.
She told the team that the girls often get pregnant. Some were allowed to give birth while some were forced to abort the foetus.
Security Agencies
Residents around the area point fingers at security agencies for aiding and abetting this illegal business which, according to them, has exposed the girl child to insecurities, psychological trauma and diseases after sleeping with men.
The residents said security agents frequent the centre to collect ‘returns’.
One of the guys who patronise the centre spoke with a member of Wadata Media team. He said there has been no attempt to arrest Small Lusher by security agents who come to the place.
“I know the place called Kasuwa-ruwa. There are girls who dance with men in the centre. Men come around and put cash on the floor for any girl whose dance is considered best. There is also what they call ‘bailing’. Bailing comes after the party and dancing. When a man ‘bails’ a girl, he takes her away for hideous acts. They bail a girl for like N1,500.
“I go there as well but I usually complain about the under-aged girls they bring there. Sometimes ago, some soldiers came and arrested a girl, she is not up to 16 years old.
“Many security agents like soldiers and police patronize the centre. They come around to collect their ‘returns’. At times, they will come and arrest some persons but within a short time they will release them. They have never made attempt to arrest the owner of the centre or people who sell around there,” he said.
State Government Reacts
The Kogi State Government has vowed to clamp down on all the cartels behind the use of under aged girls for prostitution and sex slavery in Lokoja, the state capital.
Reacting to Wadata Media discovery, the Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Fatima Kabir Buba said all the perpetuators of the crime will be brought to book.
She described the crime as heinous and appalling, adding that the government is not aware that such cartel is operating in the state which is against the provision of the child right act.
Hajia Buba noted that the Kogi state government, under Alhaji Yahaya Bello, will not condone any act of human trafficking or sexual exploitations in the state.
“This government will leave no stone unturned to protect the girl child and women in the state. We won’t allow any disgruntled element to come here and sabotage the effort of Governor Yahaya Bello.
“This is total wickedness. How will someone who has conscience carry out such a heinous crime like this? With this illicit business, these girls will be denied the right to education, they would be expose to all manners of dangers and diseases.
“I am assuring the general public that this matter will not be swept under the carpet and will be investigated to a logical conclusion. Whoever is behind this, no matter how highly placed in the society, must face the full wrath of the law. Kogi State is not a safe haven for criminals, teenage prostitutions, or sex slavery of any kind,” she said.
