ABUJA, Nigeria—On Friday, August 25, 2023, the Gender Unit of the Nigerian Police Force Criminal Investigation Department in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, raided Ignobis Hotels in Kubwa, Abuja.
Led by Inspector Ossai Ojobo, along with officials from the Social Development Secretariat, SDS, and a non-governmental organization, the operation resulted in the arrest of the hotel manager, Mr. Akbueze Chidi, and a restaurant operator, Ms. Priscilla Abuyah.
The dramatic operation followed a petition by Human Rights Agenda Network, HRAN, a Nigerian NGO, which accused the hotel of harboring minors for sexual exploitation. The SDS had channeled this petition to the Gender Unit for investigation.
“In our society, it’s high time someone stood up against these forms of abuse. The hotel is known in the community as where young girls, including underaged girls, are brought in for sex,” said Mrs. Joy Omokivie, the SDS officer in charge of the case.
According to Omokivie, a 12-year-old girl and her 4-year-old brother had been residing in the hotel, purportedly with their mother, Mrs. Immanuela Austyn-Araki. Post-investigation, the girl is now in the custody of the Social Welfare Department, while the younger sibling remains with the mother.
HRAN’s petition laid out a disturbing account.
It claimed that Austyn-Araki, a Bolt driver, abandoned her children in the hotel room daily, leaving them with snacks and noodles.
“She has been lodging in the hotel for over two years, and during this time, has exposed her children to sexual activities by other adults staying at the hotel,” the petition stated.
The NGO also voiced concerns over the girl’s online activity, including her access to adult sites and posting of adult content on Tik-Tok.
However, the narrative got more complicated when the hotel management refuted all allegations.
Mr. Eze Obasi, the hotel’s Managing Director, told journalists, “I am a good Christian and a traditional title holder. I cannot be a party to sexual exploitation, abuse, or endangerment of underage girls.”
Obasi defended Mrs. Austyn-Araki, saying she came to the hotel to escape an abusive relationship.
“This complaint has been raised before by different groups, and it has been settled each time,” he added.
The arrested hotel manager and restaurant operator declined to comment without legal representation when presented with the petition.
As of 8:30 p.m. Friday, the mother and her younger child were not in the hotel, adding another layer of complexity to this ongoing investigation.
As authorities try to untangle this intricate web of allegations and defenses, one thing is clear: the issue of child exploitation remains a pressing concern in Nigeria, and indeed the world, demanding immediate and substantial action.
For Immediate Assistance and Reporting of Child Exploitation in Nigeria:
- Contact the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
- Toll-Free: 07080601800
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.naptip.gov.ng
