By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
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Officials of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking on Persons (NAPTIP) Ekiti State Command, has paraded an Akure-based cleric, Pastor Edward Wesideloye and two members of his church.
The cleric said to be the shepherd of a notable Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) and his two others members were arrested for allegedly trafficking a lady to Bagdad, capital of Iraq, where she was subjected to slavery, hard labour, molestation and exploitation.
Parading the suspects, Head of the agency in Ekiti, Mr. Oladimeji Samson said the victim, Amina Bello, mother of three and a native of Ifaki Ekiti, in Ido/Osin local government area of the state, was sent to slavery by her sister with the connivance of the cleric and one other woman.
Oladimeji said the agency was contacted by the victim which led to the arrest of the suspects.
He said they would be prosecuted after due investigation.
According to him, the 36-year-old woman was lured to travel to Bagdad under the guise that she would work as a sale representative in a boutique, but was subjected to slavery and exploitation on getting to the place.
“In one of the voice notes sent to NAPTIP, the lady lamented profusely how she was suffering from the hand of the agents. She begged for help to bring her back to save her life,” he said.
Oladimeji noted that the Director General of the agency, Professor Fatima Waziri-Azi has zero tolerance for trafficking and would continue to do everything to stop it in the country.
He lamented over what he called repeated cases of child trafficking in Ekiti State.
He, therefore, urged relevant stakeholders in Ekiti to support the agency in tackling the menace of child trafficking in the state.
