USA Africa Dialogue Series - Nigerian Immigration Service Arrests and Parades 15 Chinese Prostitutes

Nigerian Immigration Service Arrests and Parades 15 Chinese Prostitutes in the Country

Nigerian Immigration Service Arrests and Parades 15 Chinese Prostitutes in the Country

August 26, 2012 By staff Leave a Comment

Nigerian Immigration Service Arrests 13 Chinese Prostitutes

Abuja — The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Friday in Abuja paraded 13 Chinese, who were arrested on suspicion of engaging in prostitution in the country.

Mr Joachim Olumba, the NIS Public Relations Officer (PRO), who briefed newsmen on the arrest, said the suspects were apprehended in Lagos following intelligence report received from an informant.

He said the service received a report on the activities of some Chinese nationals who connived with some Nigerians to traffic teenage girls into the country on the pretence of offering them jobs in factories.

Olumba said a distress call from one of the victims prompted the immigration service to carry out a raid on some operational locations of some of the syndicates.

"Having gathered intelligence information, operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service swooped on the operational locations of the syndicates at No. 18, 24 and 26B Emena Crescent, Ikeja, Lagos.

"During the operations a total number of 13 Chinese nationals made up of 11 females and two males were arrested.

He said preliminary investigation confirmed that most of the women were sponsored into the country by some "criminal human traffickers who are currently at large".

Olumba said the service was intensifying efforts to apprehend and prosecute those behind the illegal trade.

He said the suspects came into the country on business visas, and obtained extensions from questionable sources.

"We are also carrying out investigations to unravel the sources of the purported visa extensions in their possessions," he said.

Olumba, however, expressed the regrets that the informant who made the distress call that led to the investigation and arrest of the suspects, had yet to be rescued because she did not give a clear description of her location in Lagos.

"It is unfortunate that we have not been able to rescue the lady who called us, because she only provided the number of the house where she is being held, without the name of the street.

"We want to use this opportunity to solicit for information from the public that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of this ignoble business and rescue of our informant," Olumba said.

The information also revealed that more than 40 teenage girls were brought into the country and camped in an apartment for Nigerian politicians, business executives and expatriates to hire for sex at the cost of between $1,000 and $2,500. The cartel was run by Chinese couple named Sun and Yin Li.

Fielding questions from newsmen, the NIS Arresting Officer, Mrs Chinwe Obi, said the Chinese Embassy in Abuja was in touch with the suspects, and that arrangements were being made to ease them out of the country.

She also said the Chinese community in Abuja had shown their solidarity with the victims through provision of Chinese delicacies and goods.

One of the victims, Miss Lu Yui Suan, however, denied allegations that they were arrested for prostitution.

Lu Yui, who spoke through an interpreter, said she came into the country in June, on the invitation of a friend.

Source: (News Agency of Nigeria – NAN)

Toyin Falola
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