Chief Executive Officer, CEO of TSW Cote d’Ivoire and the Aid-Life Group of Companies, Cote d’Ivoire, Chief Joseph Onah said he is very disappointed with the activities of Benue girls who are into prostitution because Benue people are known for hardwork.
The Ojikpururu 1 Ny’Igede made this displeasure in an exclusive interview with NewsHunter in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire last Friday.
Chief Onah who is also the President of the Benue State Union in Cote d’Ivoire further said there is nothing wrong in seeking for greener pastures outside the country but one mustn’t indulge in illegal activities.
His words, “I am very very disappointed to see our girls doing this because Benue people are hardworking people. Our girls are not known for prostitution. Everybody is looking for greener pasture and when you ask these girls, you will discover that they were not told from Nigeria that they are bringing them for prostitution.
“They are told that there are better jobs that they will be well paid. They deceive them and because they are looking for greener pastures, they follow them here and unfortunately, when they are here, they seize their phones hence they cannot communicate with their family members and relatives; only to be taken to the ghetto (brothel), so those are some of the issues and we are very disappointed,” he noted.
The successful entrepreneur however advised parents to educate their children especially when people come as good Samaritan to help them. “My message to our parents back home is to educate their children that before anybody deceive them or send them to anywhere, they should be able to get information of such person who is coming to tell them that they have job opportunities for their children.
He continued, “If they are able to get information about the person that is volunteering to help, or give them job out there, that would be nice but if they can’t get in touch with their girls within one month, after traveling, then they can report the person to the police or other relevant authorities,” Chief Onah noted.
On whether the economic in Nigeria is responsible or probably the girls are greedy and wants to make it fast, the Ojikpururu 1 Ny’Igede said, “Well, there is no condition or excuse that will give anybody right to commit crime no matter the economic challenge in any country. It doesn’t give anybody right to commit crime and we Nigerians are known as hardworking people.
On what can be done to tackle the menace, the TSW Chief Executive said, “The first thing is to tighten our border between Nigeria and Benin Republic, which is the Seme-border. And if the Nigerian and Benin Republic securities are able to collaborate, I believe they will be able to curtail this menace because you discover that these children are passing through the Seme-border either by land or by sea; and if they also collaborate with the Cote d’Ivoire government, I believe they will be able to tackle the menace.”
He however urged the Nigerian government to investigate the and possibly arrest the criminals behind the trafficking of children for prostitution. “If those children are found, they should not just repatriate them back to Nigeria but try to investigate using those that are being rescued to track the cartel. The people that are involved in this criminal act, recruiting the girls, forcing them into prostitution are committing grievous crime hence government should do something urgently about it by ensuring that they face the wrath of the law,” he concluded.
Watch out for the full interview tomorrow
