Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), on Sunday night, raided a hotel in Lugbe, Abuja.
Mr Josiah Emerole, NAPTIP’s Director of Investigation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the operatives rescued three girls and arrested 20 suspects over alleged forced prostitution.
He said that the hotel, located in Tundun Wada area of Lugbe, was identified as a notorious spot where underage girls were kept for prostitution.
Some of the girls, however, pleaded innocence, while explaining that they were arrested while running errands.
”Part of our job is to rescue under aged persons who are being exploited and arrest suspects.
”Davis Hotel has been in our radar for sometime and we have rescued some underage girls from the facility in the past.
“The NAPTIP Act frowns at facilities where young girls are harboured and exploited for prostitution,” Emerole said.
He said that all the persons arrested in the raid would be profiled, during which the victims will be separated from the suspects.
“When we profiled them, we will keep those we identify as victims in our facility for rehabilitation, while the suspects would be handed over to our legal department for prosecution,” he said.
He advised parents and guardians to take interest in movement and activities of their children and wards and protect them from being exploited in any way.
The raid which lasted till 12 midnight was jointly executed by officials of NAPTIP and men of the Nigeria Police Force.