Officials of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, has rescued four women from a suspected human trafficker in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
The women were being taken to Libya when the RRS officials arrested them at Jibowu area of the state.
The rescued victims and the suspect were immediately transferred to National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP).
One of the four ladies rescued from Ganiat Ajijola, the suspected trafficker, disclosed that she abandoned her two children for her husband in order to make the botched trip to Libya.
The victim, Cecilia Bankole, 26, a hair dresser, stated that her husband resisted her plan to abandon her children in search of wealth in Libya.
The mother of two children, aged 2 and 4 years respectively, said when the issue was discussed with her husband initially, he disagreed with the plan.
“I told my husband to allow me to go so that I would have an opportunity to raise funds for the family. I pleaded with him but he insisted in having the custody of his children. Although I am a hairdresser, I have not completed my apprenticeship. Going to Libya to work as an artisan would enable me raise funds to take care of my family.
“Even when my mother pleaded with him that she would be taking care of the children while I will be away, he still declined. However, after much persuasion, my husband threatened to have the custody of his children after my departure and I must not look back for them,” she narrated.
She explained that Ganiat Ajijola refused to open up to them on how long they would stay in Libya.
“The trafficker didn’t tell us the number of years we are going to spend in Libya. She only told us the due date of the passport and that we are going by road,” Cecilia Bankolesaid.
Expressing a contrary opinion, Mrs Maria Bankole, the victim’s mother and a prophetess in a white garment church in Alagbado, said that what Ganiat Ajejola told her was that her daughter would be re– united with her after two years.
“I was informed that a big madam whom Ganiat Ajijola was working for in Libya needs hairdressers to help her manage her shop. Upon hearing that my daughter will be going abroad, I volunteered my daughter because she is a hairdresser. I begged her husband but he declined to allow her go on the trip. I had prayed about it and God said she should go. That is why I encouraged her,” she said.
According to her, “I followed her to the point where they were arrested because I wanted to know Ganiat Ajijola before their departure. I am not aware they were going by road. They told me Ganiat was taking them to Abeokuta today (monday, 11 January) to arrange an international passport for them.”
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