Human Trafficking: Woman Held With 4 Ghanaian Girls

November 10, 2004 - (P.M. News - Lagos) A 25-year old nursing mother, Janet Yisa, has been arrested for allegedly trafficking in Ghanaian girls.

According to police sources, the woman claimed she is a trader and only wanted to help the girls to get better jobs in Nigeria, instead of roaming the streets of Ghana.

According to PMNews findings, "she gave the girls the impression that she will take good care of them, providing jobs that will improve their lot." The girls who identified themselves as Aishat, Latifat, Memunat and Adijat, said they didn't know that the suspect was bringing them to Nigeria because she had earlier told them she will get them jobs in Togo.

But to their surprise, the bus they boarded from Ghana brought them to the Mile 2 international motor park in Lagos.

They were accosted at the park by police officers led by Inspector Jamiu Ajele of Festac Police Station.
P.M.News gathered from Mr. Dayo Akinbisehin, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), that after being confronted at the motor park, Yisa simply couldn't explain how she came about the girls.

She was promptly arrested and handed over to the officer-in-charge of the Mile 2 police division.

From there, the case was transferred to the State CID, Panti Street, Yaba headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), M. A. Lawal.

DSP Akinbisehin told P.M.News that the police believe that Yisa's desire was to enslave the girls here in Nigeria either as house helps or for prostitution.

"This is a clear case of inhumanity to a fellow being," he stated.

The accounts of the victims (Aishat, Latifat, Adijat and Memunat) show that they were deceived, as they claimed they never knew the woman from Adam. They said she found them on the streets of Accra, Ghana, and lured them to Lagos, promising to give them jobs and make life comfortable for them. They affirmed that their guardians were not duly informed by the suspect before bringing them to Nigeria.

Yisa, an indigene of Owode town in Oyo State, said she was only being a good samaritan to the girls, as she felt they were wasting away in Ghana when they could become sales girls to traders in Nigeria and make "good" money.

When asked if she got the consent of the girls' guardians before bringing them to Nigeria, she claimed she got permission from one of the girls' sisters.

Meanwhile, the Ghanaian Embassy in Lagos has requested for the release of the girls to them. Policemen at Panti said they will be released as soon as they get the consent of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Israel Ajao.

Yisa, on her part, will be prosecuted in connection with the alleged human trafficking.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200411100298.html