Juliana Francis
Okah
Operatives of the National Agency for the
Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Ministry of
foreign Affairs, the Nigeria High Commission in New Delhi, India, the New Delhi
Police as well as activists from the New Delhi based – Anti-Human Trafficking
Organisation known as Vihaan-(WMS), in a joint operation have a notorious
Foreign –based human trafficker, Joy Shandy Okah, a suspected human trafficker
operating in India.
Press and Public Relations Unit, NAPTIP, Adekoye
Vincent, said that the successful operation also led to the rescue of three
Nigerian victims of forced prostitution in New Delhi, India.
Explaining how the operation was coordinated, Head
of the International and Intelligence Cooperation Unit of NAPTIP, Mrs. Angela
Agbayekhai, said the prompt directive and support from the Director General of
NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, accounted for the success of the operation.
Agbayekhai said: “On December 12, 2021, NAPTIP
received a Save Our Soul (SOS) via email from a Nigerian Minor-17 years old, who
was deceitfully trafficked from Nigeria for forced prostitution in India. She
requested the intervention of the NAPTIP for her rescue and that of other
Nigerian victims held captive and forced into sex trade by Okah, a Nigerian
based in India. NAPTIP networked with the Indian based NGO Vihaan-WMS through
intelligence sharing, which resulted in the rescue of the three victims and
arrest of their trafficker at New Krishina Park, near Well Pharmacy Vikaspuri,
New Delhi – India.”
According to Agbayekhai, the victims were recruited
from Edo, Delta and Rivers states in Nigeria and trafficked to India for sexual
exploitation by Okah and her accomplices. One of the victims travelled from
Nigeria on September 17, 2021, while the other two arrived India from Nigeria
on December 14, 2021. The victims were subjected to oath rituals in Nigeria
before their eventual travel.
“The victims travelled with questionable Passports
and Student Visas. They were eventually held captive in New Delhi by Okah, who
sponsored their trip to India. Their phones and travel documents were seized and
they were forced into prostitution to pay up a debt of N4.5 Million each until
their rescue on January 6, 2022. Okah is currently facing trial in an Indian
Court since 7th January 2022 after her arrest and the victims who are currently
in a safe house linked to Vihaan-WMS and assisting the authorities in this
regard,” said Agbayekhai.
Speaking on the development, Waziri-Azi stated: “I
have directed that all persons linked with the recruitment, harbouring,
trafficking and sexual exploitation of the three victims who are based in
Nigeria, be identified, arrested and prosecuted. We shall take the appropriate
legal step to ensure that such proceeds of crime are forfeited and use to
assuage the pain inflicted on the victims.”
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