MICHAEL AKINOLA
The Police Intelligence team from the Area M Command, Idimu, Lagos, have arrested two hotel owners, who allegedly brought a young lady from Akwa Ibom State for sex services and removed her womb.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the victim’s womb was said to have been damaged and had to be removed to save her life because of complications she had during the sex romps and as such she cannot bear a child in her entire life.
The incident happened at the notorious Corner Cave Hotel, located at Waisu Agoro Street off Adebimpe Street, Council Bus Stop, Idimu, Lagos, where the victim was kept in captivity and men were brought to her for sex.
The owners of the hotel, Grace Sylvester Effiong, 35 and her brother, Hope Effiong, 34, have been arrested and detained at the Command while the victim was rescued and rushed to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where doctors are battling to save her life.
Their arrest followed a report by a Samaritan, who saw the condition of the victim and contacted the Area Commander, ACP Bayo Sulaiman, who directed the Human Rights Section of the Command led by Mrs. Ronke Taiwo to move into action, rescued the victim and kept her in protective custody before taking her to LASUTH.
During interrogation on how she came to Lagos, the victim stated that she was in her village in Akwa Ibom State when the suspects came and lured her to Lagos under the false pretence that she will be cooking and managing the food section in the hotel they had opened and she followed them innocently.
However, when she was brought to Lagos, she was made to know that the purpose of bringing her was to have sex with men for a fee and was kept inside a room where men paid to sleep with her on daily basis.
While she was kept in the room, they usually bring different men to have sex with her for a fee and they will collect the money. Whenever she refuses, they will beat the hell out of her for not having sex with men to make more money for them.
It was in the process that she had complications, which led to the removal of her womb.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found the suspects culpable and subsequently charged them before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for engaging the victim with different people, assault and endangering her life by not providing the necessity of life.
They pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. K.A. Ariyo, granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
They were remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions while the matter was adjourned till 7th February, 2023, for hearing.