As FCT police command investigates its men for rape of sex workers
No fewer than 59 sex workers, including 43 girls and 16 men, have been arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) in Calabar, Cross River State.
The director of DSS in the state, Mr. Ilupeju Adebayo, disclosed this while briefing the media on Saturday.
He said the said the girls were rounded up at 2:15am today at Peace Garden Hotel and Papsi Place along the Murtala Mohammed Highway.
Adebayo revealed that there was a cartel responsible for luring the girls and making them swear oaths of secrecy not to abscond or divulge information about the business.
“We got intelligence report and swung into action; we have been on the matter for months. We discovered that the girls are mostly underage, mostly 13, 15, and 19 years of age.
“We also know that they were brought in by a cartel deeply involved in the business of trafficking and using the girls as commercial sex workers.
“The girls then bring returns to them at the beginning or close of the week depending on their modus operandi.
“We have made some arrests including that of the owner of Papsi Place, a brothel that houses mostly underage girls who pay him N2, 000 on week days and N4, 000 at weekends as lodging fee. They operate from the hotel to clubs were we arrested them stark naked.
“We have contacted the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) while investigations are ongoing until all those involved in the illicit trade are arrested and charged to court,’’ he said.
One of the girls, (name withheld) said she was brought to Calabar from Rivers State for a sales girl job but she ended up becoming a commercial sex worker.
“I was brought to Calabar through a friend who told me that I will be given a job as a sales girl. She took me to a lady who I only know as Aunty Favour.
“They took me to a brothel at Atamu Street, Calabar South, from where I used to attend night clubs.
“I ran away and then they traced me and brought me back; they wanted to force me to take an oath but I objected and absconded again to meet my friend whom I came with to Calabar then.
“Aunty Favour came there with the boyfriend and some cult boys and beat me up. And told me that if I run they will kill me or I will die.
“So, I usually go to her house to make returns to her every week but I am not happy with the kind of work I am doing; it was never my intentions to do this, because my friend did not tell me that it was this kind of job,’’ she said.
One of the suspects, Mr. Edem John, who was among the 16 men in custody and owner of Papsi’s Place, denied any wrong doing.
He claimed that he had been warning the underage girls not to come to his place for commercial sex.
He, however, added that because of the trying times, he had no choice but to do his business.
“I have been doing this business for about two years; they pay me N2, 000 for the accommodation where they have sex with men.
“Although I have been warning the underage ones to stay away from my place but they still come back, and I need to do my business because I have a family to feed,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the FCT police command has set up a team to investigate the allegations of rape leveled against some of its personnel.
The alleged rape was said to have occurred on April 27 when some suspected commercial sex workers were raided at Caramelo Night Club by the FCTA Joint Task Team.
The team that went on the raid comprises the Department of Development Control, Abuja Environment Protection Board (AEPB), and the Social Development Secretariat.
Some of the commercial sex workers alleged that they were harassed, molested and assaulted by some police personnel.
They alleged that policemen attached to Utako, Life Camp and Gwarimpa police stations raped and physically assaulted them while in custody.
Following the allegation, the command’s deputy spokesman, ASP Gajere Tanimu in a statement in Abuja on Friday said the command had sent out invitation to some individuals that may assist in the investigation.
Tanimu while assuring members of the public of the command’s zero tolerance for misconduct noted that stiff punishment will be meted out to officers found guilty.
“The attention of FCT Police Command has been drawn to serious allegations of rape against some of its members on social, print and electronic media. This was said to have occurred on 27th April, 2019 when some suspected commercial sex workers were raided by the FCTA Joint Task Team comprising of the Department of Development Control, Abuja Environment Protection Board (AEPB), and the Social Development Secretariat at Caramelo night club, Utako, and also while they were kept at Utako Division.
“The Command as a responsible corporate citizen, views the allegations seriously. Consequently, a high powered team was constituted to investigate the veracity of the allegation.
“In this regard invitations were sent out to relevant individuals that may assist in getting to the root of the matter.
“The Command wishes to assure members of the public of its zero tolerance for unprofessional disregard to human rights and stiff punishments will be meted out to erring officers,” said Tanimu in the statement.
