We were tricked to burkina faso and forced into prostitution’

Firstclass newsline learnt that some repentant commercial sex workers
numbering to four, Glory, Saidat, Toyin and Omowunmi (not real names)
have urged other young women to stay off the sex trade.
The repentant prostitutes said that commercial sex venture was a very
awful job and was a very dangerous business.
While speaking with a source in separate interviews before the Kwara
State Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs. Abimbola
Abiodun-Ojo, handed them over to the National Agency for the
Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matter, girls said
that they were tricked into the illicit trade because they could not
secure real jobs. They however, expressed remorse and regret in their
involvement in the trade.
One of the girls, Glory (24), said she hails from Edo State and used
to work in a restaurant in Benin, the Edo State capital.
She said that in the course of her interaction with some people, she
met a man called Prince, whom she informed of her desire to travel
abroad to seek greener pastures.
She said Prince promised to help her and later took her to Burkina
Faso after forcing her to swear an oath that she would repay her
travel expenses.
Glory said, "I told him I would like that but that I have a problem; I
am not literate. He said I would survive and make it there. That was
why I agreed to the offer.
"So we travelled to Burkina Faso in October but instead of helping me
to get a job, he sold me to a woman called Rita.
"When I got there, I did not know that it was prostitution that I was
to be engaged in. I stayed in Rita's house for some time. When I was
persuaded to start the prostitution work, I refused to work. I was not
doing well in the brothel and I always said I wanted to go back home.
One day, she asked me whether I did not know that she bought me and
that I had to balance her 1million Sefa?"
Glory said since her family was poor and she did not even have money
to return home, she had to agree to the prostitution so that she could
get money to pay back Rita and return to Nigeria.
Glory said, "I regret this prostitution. That is why I came back home.
Prostitution is not a job. Not all the people who are doing it are
happy. I thank God that I came back safely and that I did not contract
any disease. I have gone for some tests including HIV and I tested
negative. Prostitution is not a good job at all."
Saidat (22) said she and her two friends were also tricked into the
illicit trade like Glory
She stated that a woman from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, popularly
called Panta, promised to assist her in getting a job because she
could no longer live with her auntie.
According to her, Panta told her she would assist her get a job in a
textile manufacturing company and that she would need to go for a
two-week knitting training.
She stated that she was surprised when she was later taken to Burkina
Faso and was put in a brothel to work as a prostitute.
Saidat said, "I really regret going there. The woman did not tell me
that I was going to be involved in prostitution.
"Prostitution is bad. I do not want people to get involved in such
work. It is not a job at all. It could be deadly."
Abiodun-Ojo said Saidat, Toyin and Omowumi met Panta at a party in
Ibadan. She said the party was hosted by a lady identified simply as
Funmi. She added that the three ladies exchanged contacts with Panta
and they became friends.
The comptroller said the trio narrated their joblessness to Panta who
promised to help them.
She said, "Since they had established a relationship, the day they
were to go, they did not have much money so she said they will go to
Shaki, where she would obtain passports for them. They asked her how
much the passport would cost but she told them not to bother,
promising to take them to South Africa.
"When they got to Shaki, Panta was negotiation with a driver and it
was obvious she did not know exactly where they were going. One of the
women asked Panta where she was taking them. Panta said she was taking
them to Burkina Faso and that from there she would take them to South
Africa."
They travelled for three days in a vehicle before getting to Burkina
Faso where Panta broke the news to them – they had to become
commercial sex workers.
According to her, the helpless young ladies had nowhere to flee to, as
Panta put them in a brothel.
But after two days, the ladies could no longer bear the trade and they
told Panta they were no longer interested.But she locked them inside a
room and left with the key.
She said the ladies had contact a neighbour who could barely speak
English. After continuous banging on the door, the neighbour forced
the door open. They later borrowed money and transported themselves to
Chikanda Control Post where they narrated their ordeal to immigration
officials.
According to the NIS boss, it is the job of NAPTIP to make investigate
their case further and apprehend Panta and other sponsors and
perpetrators.
She advised people, especially ladies, to be wary of the relationships
they keep.
The ladies should be cautious of who they make friends with. If
someone is trying to entice you with a particular thing, do your own
investigation. Make sure you know the person. If you do not know the
person very well or elso you might be heading for the
worst,"Abiodun-Ojo said.
Firstclassnewsline.net