The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it will soon clampdown on operators of hospitality and recreation centres using boys and girls for sexual services. Hide quoted text
NAPTIP Director-General, Mrs Julie Okah-Donli, on Thursday noted that provisions of the “Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015,’’ prohibits the harbouring of any person under the age of 18 years in such places.
She said: “The trafficking in Persons Act 2015 is very clear on this and we will not allow the abuse and exploitation of our children in hotels, brothels and other recreation facilities across the country to continue unabated.
“Our children should at this age be in schools to learn and develop properly and not be in hotels and brothels being used as sex objects by criminals.
“We will engage our sister law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance and anyone found culpable will face the music, as we must implement this law to the letter irrespective of who the owners of such facilities may be.
“Available intelligence indicated that hundreds of relaxation centres and brothels that were not registered with Nigeria Tourism Development Board or any other regulatory government institutions are operating presently.
“And keeping hundreds of our girls and even boys in some cases as money making ventures, sexually exploiting them on daily basis”.
The NAPTIP boss added that operatives have been detailed to commence raids of brothels and hotels harbouring children, vowing that “any centre found wanting will be sealed up and the operators will face the law”.
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