By Uche Henry
The director general, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Okah has announced the apprehension of five persons suspected to be rapist and human traffickers.
In a Press conference yesterday at the agency headquarters Abuja, the DG said, out of the 5 recent cases recorded by NAPTIP, 3 of which are rape cases and sexual abuses against minors; a serious offenses punishable under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPPA) 2015, while the other 2 are attempts by two suspects trafficking other Nigerians out of the country using fraudulent means contrary to the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
According to her, the first arrest was made on a 27 year old Airport Taxi driver, James Eberechukwu Osuji, who hails from Ehime Mbano, Imo State but resides in Abuja. She said “on Thursday, August 2, the suspect was alleged to have lured a 17yr old female (name withheld) to his house and camped her from three days. He was alleged to have drugged the victim and sexually violated her.
“The young girl was eventually found on Saturday morning after the suspect has had enough of her and pushed her out of his house after a futile search by her parents. The matter was subsequently reported to the Agency and the suspect was apprehended by the tactical team of NAPTIP Rapid Response Squad, the suspect under our custody has confessed to the offence of rape.
The second case according to NAPTIP boss is against an acclaimed Pastor, Philip prince Olatunbosun, 43, from Ondo west, resides at Number 191, Zone 4, Dutse Bupma Settlement Area, Off Bwari Road, Abuja. She revealed that the suspect was alleged to have sexually harassed his 17 years old house help in several occasions.
“On one occasion, he was alleged to have taken his sexual harassment to the kitchen where the victim was busy doing the dishes; there he used his hands to forcefully bring out the victim’s breasts, fondle them, and then proceeded to push one of his hands under her skirt and inserted his fingers into her vagina. He subsequently warned her not to utter report to anyone as there would be consequences. Not comfortable with the situation, the victim reported the matter to a number of people. He was apprehended by a tactical team of the NAPTIP Rapid Response Squad. The suspect is still in the custody of the Agency while investigation is ongoing”. She added.
Still on the rape cases, she Said, a chef, Innocent Etim, 31, from Ifeayong village, Oduan LGA of Akwa Ibom State who resides at Sauka, Airport Road, Abuja, was arrested for allegedly raping a 13 years old girl (name withheld) whose mother provides cooking assistance whenever he has a catering contract. She said “In February 13, the victim went to the residence of the suspect to collect a cake which the suspect had promised her for her birthday the following day, despite the mother’s calls for the girl to return home, the suspect engaged in delay tactics until it was late and subsequently told the girl that he could not allow her take the risk of hitting the road at night, he allegedly raped the girl severally and brutally and warned her to keep quite else he would stop giving jobs to her mother if she tells anyone, incidentally, the rape has resulted into pregnancy. The suspect who is at present in the NAPTIP custody has confessed to the offence.”
On the trafficking offences, she said, Abiona David Oluwafemi Tobi, who claimed to be the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Healthcare, Federal Ministry of Health, signed some letters to someone in Finland as Director, Policy, Planning, Research and Strategy, he tried to traffic 12 persons to Finland under the guise of embarking on a Study Tour of Health facilities.
“In one letter, the suspect claimed to be member, Hospitals Management Board of the Ogun State governor and Director, Finance and Accounts of the Hospitals Board. All these were geared towards acquiring visas for the people he wanted to take to Finland. Unfortunately he along four of the victims were apprehended yesterday by the operatives of the Agency while at the Embassy of Finland trying to procure the visas. He has confessed to his misdeeds while investigation continues”.
In a related offence, Asia Rita, 33, who was alleged to be trafficking 7 persons to Libya, was intercepted alongside with the alleged victims by officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Katsina and transferred to NAPTIP yesterday by the NIS Headquarters.
Julie further reiterated that all the suspects will soon be arraigned in court and be sentenced to jail in accordance with the provisions of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPPA) 2015.
