‘I sold my niece for N10,000 to sex workers in Libya

A 27 YEAR-OLD man yesterday confessed selling his sister’s daughter to commercial sex workers operating in Libya for a paltry sum of N10, 000. The suspect, Kelvin Okorie, was among five members of the syndicate arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos Police Command led by Superintendent Abba Kyari.

The suspect said he did not expect the gang in Libya would force his niece into sex slavery. He noted that his friends in Libya alleged that they could help young Nigerian girls to secure employment in supermarkets and gas stations.

The story changed when the victim arrived Libya. She became a sex slave. Confessing before newsmen at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, the suspect said: “I ran into Precious Ugochi Okoro, my sister’s daughter at Ojota.

I had never met her before then, she was the one who identified me. She said she was my cousin’s daughter and that she had some problems. She took me to where she was staying at Ojota. She said that some cultists tried to kidnap her and the guy she was putting up with rescued her.” “I was with one of my friends whose name is Daniel.

During our discussion, Daniel said she could assist Ugochi to travel to Libya. Daniel had planned to travel to Dubai but was scammed by some criminals.

He said that he was in touch with the guys in Libya and that he was sure that they would assist Ugochi.” “The next day, the three of us went to see Ogbonna at Alaba International Market. It was Daniel who opened the discussion with Ogbonna. During the discussion, I discovered that Ogbonna’s younger brother was the one in Libya.

They both agreed that Ugochi should be brought to Libya. Three days later, we came back to Alaba to meet Ogbonna. After the deal had been sealed, Daniel gave me N10, 000. At first, I said that the money was too small and I appealed to them to add something to it.

In short, we concluded and they fixed the trip for next day.” “However, Ugochi initially refused. She said that she was still in school and secondly, her mother would not agree.

I was able to convince her that she could continue her education anywhere in the world and that all she needed was a good job. Daniel promised that they would get a job for her either as petrol station attendant or in a supermarket.” Investigations revealed that while Ugochi’s parents had gone to the Police station to report a case of “missing person” , Kelvin who knew the whereabouts of the girl did not open up to the parents who were jittery over the sudden disappearance of their daughter.

Rather, he pretended to be assisting the victim’s parents in search of their missing daughter. Investigations also revealed that Kelvin’s gang demanded for various sums ranging from N30, 000 to N250,000 as ransom from Ugochi’s parents who promptly paid.

The Lagos State police boss, Kayode Aderanti identified the five suspects as Innocent Onyekwere, 38, Ugwu Christopher Maduabuchi, 37, Christian Mercy Chima, 19, Kelvin Okorie, 27 and Obonna Njoku, 20. Aderanti explained that the move to rescue Ugochi started some time in April last year when she was kidnapped. According to him: “On April 25, 2014, one Precious Ugochi Okoro, of No. 55 Igboroko Street, Lakuwe, Ajah, Lagos, who was on her way back to school in Ikenne, Ogun State was kidnapped.

“The kidnappers after two months of holding the victim against her will and all rules of decency, contacted her parents using various telephone numbers and demanding for various sums of money ranging from 30,000 US Dollars, N200, 000 and N30, 000 respectively as ransom. They also furnished different account numbers as details for receiving the demanded ransom,” he added.

The Lagos Police boss further revealed that on receiving such disturbing information, he directed the Officer-in-charge of SARS, Abba Kyari to investigate the matter.

He said that during investigation, Kyari stumbled upon information about the notorious activities of a syndicate who are into trafficking of young Nigerian girls to Libya as sex slaves. “Five persons were arrested among who is the brother to the victim’s mother. He was the person who sold his sister’s daughter to the gang. Three of the suspects have been charged to court, while two will soon be charged” he said.