I Became A Prostitute At 10 – Victim

An 18-year-old victim of human trafficking, identified simply as Victoria, has told us that she became a prostitute at the age of 10 because she was gullible to trust an elderly woman who promised her a job as shop assistant in Lagos.

Victoria said eight years ago, she was living in Cross River State with her aunty, who was married to a wife beater, adding that the offer from the elderly woman was like a God-sent because she wanted a new life.

She said by the time she got to Lagos, she discovered that she had been deceived and that she was brought to the city to prostitute herself for the kinswoman.

Victoria said, "I was living with my elder sister in Cross River State when I came across the woman in my community. She told me that her mother needed a shop assistant in Lagos. My parents were dead at the time and my sister was in an unhappy marriage with a husband who beat her frequently.

"It seemed better at the time to start a new life than to continue with living with my sister and her husband. I left the house early one morning without telling anyone just as I had been instructed and was brought to Lagos with one other young boy."

Victoria said she was taken to a house somewhere in Ikeja, which, from all appearances, seemed to be an ordinary residential building but, in reality, it was a brothel.

She said at the place so many young women lived and worked, adding that its owner was the mother of the elderly lady who had convinced her to move to Lagos.

She stated, "When it was evening, the old woman gave me a short skirt to wear and explained that I was to work as a prostitute. I was aghast and protested violently so she tried her best to cajole me.

"For a week, I refused to do anything and in the second week, I was able to run away from the house.

"Unfortunately, I was caught, brought back and locked up in a room, where the old woman called in four boys to gang-rape me.

"After that incident, I was forced to earn my living as a prostitute. Every day, they brought different men to sleep with me, and the madam usually collects the money. I never saw a dime.

"I believe some policemen knew what was going on in that house, they never did anything. They would just come to collect money from the madam and go.

"It was after a team of policemen from Force Criminal Investigation Department, annex, Alagbon, Lagos raided the brothel that I got my freedom and was handed over to the officials of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons."

WE gathered that at NAPTIP, Victoria underwent a six-year-nine-month rehabilitation course programme. She is one of the seven recipients of an empowerment programme by the agency.

She underwent training in fashion designing. After the training, she was equipped with sewing machines, other tools and money.

Victoria said, "I am determined to be self sufficient. These are things our parents could not afford. We are truly thankful and grateful."

Another victim, Sarah, who took up hairdressing during her stay with NAPTIP, told US that she was sold as a s*x slave by a pastor who headed a local church.

She said, "My mum and I lived in Ondo State. One day, a pastor who was very cordial with my mum suggested I came to Lagos to work for his sister as a sales girl. Although we did not attend his church, he was quite respected in the community and my mum was persuaded that it was a better option than staying back in the village as a farmer.

"My mother gave her consent and along with four other girls, I got into a bus with the pastor and we supposedly headed for Lagos."

Unknown to Sarah and the other girls, they were headed for Burkina Faso where they were to be sold as s*x slaves.

She said, "Till today, I cannot say what really happened. All I remember now is that we awoke to find ourselves in Burkina Faso.

Luckily for Sarah, one of her companions befriended a Burkinabe citizen who frequented the brothel. It was this new friend who aided their escape after they took him into confidence.

To give the impression that they were still within the neighbourhood, all the five girls strolled out of the brothel with just a piece of wrapper tied across their chests. They met up with their new friend who took them to the Nigerian Embassy.

Sarah said, "I was later brought to Nigeria and handed over to NAPTIP. I was able to call my mum and tell her my ordeal. Somehow, the pastor got wind of my escape and fled the community before he could be arrested."

The Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr. Famakin Joseph, handing over the sewing machines and hairdryers to the seven victims said, "Vocational training is not the only option available to victims of human trafficking. We currently have a victim who is an undergraduate at the University of Markudi and NAPTIP is footing the bill.

"We will continue to monitor the progress of these young women because we want them to become useful members of the society. They are assured of our continued support even as they are being reintegrated back into society."

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Breached Public Peace: Lovers Fight Over S*x Fee In Hotel Room

Two lovers, Godwin Agu, 35, and Amaka Njoku, 30, have landed in trouble after they engaged in public fighting over sex fee in a hotel in Ajegunle, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.

They were charged before an Apapa Magistrate's court and remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri, Lagos.

They are facing charge of conduct that breached public peace for fighting in the hotel.

The lovers had ealier agreed to have short time sex for a fee of N500 and went to a popular hotel in Ajegunle, Lagos.

It was gathered that after they checked into a room, Amaka, who had earlier agreed to collect N500 suddenly changed her mind after Agu spent a longer time during the s*x romp. Amaka reportedly told Agu that since he had stayed too long with her in the room he had to pay additional N500. Agu agreed and after he finished, he refused to add more money, insisting he only had a round of s*x as they agreed.

This caused serious aurgment that resulted in fighting between them in the hotel. The fighting disrupted the activities in the hotel that evening before the hotel management intervened. The management contacted the police who arrested them and charged them to court for engaging in a public fight.

According to Agu, "I pleaded with Amaka before she agreed on the price and at the middle of the action, she wanted to discontinue, insisting that I must add more money."

Amaka said he promised to complete the money when she complained that he had stayed too long. When they were arraigned in court, they pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr. P. A. Adekomaya granted them bail in the sum of N10,000 with one surety in like sum. Also, the defendants were asked to bring a letter from a community leader to show they will be of good conduct in future. They were, however, remanded in prison custody pending when they perfect their bail conditions.

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Robbers Invade Lagos Airport, Kill Two Policemen

Heavily armed robbers on Wednesday night invaded the International Wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos, killed two policemen and made away with a huge amount of foreign currencies from some bureau-de-change operators at nation's premier gateway, officials said.

The dare devil robbers, who arrived the airport some few minutes to nine, headed for the BDC operators centre near the car park and started shooting sporadically, eyewitnesses said.

The robbers, numbering over 10, were said to have been engaged in a gun duel for about 30 minutes by policemen attached to the airport.

The gunfight, it was learnt, resulted in the death of two policemen and one armed robber, who was said to have tied local magical bands all over his arms and body.

As at a few minutes past 9pm, the two dead policemen were being conveyed in a van to the mortuary, according to eyewitnesses.

The Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Mr. Bayo Ajileye, could not be reached for comments. His telephone line was switched off when our correspondent made a call.

However, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Yakubu Dati, confirmed the robbery.

He, however, said he could only confirm the death of one of the robbers. He said the level of casualties was being ascertained.

He added, "The situation has since been brought under control by the swift intervention of joint security force. They were apparently attempting to rob a bureau de change operator near the airport. Normal operations and flight have not been affected by the incident."

The event has exposed the porous security network of the nation's flagship airport.

Last year, robbers came to the airport and made away with millions of dollars from BDC operators.

An eyewitness said the robbers came into the airport through the car park.

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MaN KillEd For Not HaviNg MonEy!

Robbers have shot and killed a father of two, Nnamdi Kingsley, after he told them he had no money to give them.

Eye witnesses said that the robbers invaded 4, Olu Fagbayide Street, Eginrin-Rofo in Odogunyan area of Ikorodu, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, where Kingsley, 33, resided and robbed all the tenants from room to room.

Kingsley, who hailed from Imo state, south-east Nigeria, was shot in the chest and rushed to Ikorodu General Hospital after the robbers had left.

From there he was referred to another hospital where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

According to an eyewitness, the robbers struck on Monday night at about 1a.m. and were shooting and breaking doors into the rooms of occupants and asking for money and other valuables such as jewellery and phones.

They injured many who were perceived to be wasting their time and failing to promptly respond to their orders.

One of the occupants of the house, 40-year old Musbau Akande, a motor mechanic, said the robbers broke into his apartment and asked for money and when he told them there was no money, "one of the robbers corked his gun and said he will waste our lives.  

He said as one of them pointed the gun at his wife, he begged and told them there was money and quickly brought out all the money they had in the house; N15,000 from his wife and N30,000 from him, all amounting to N45,000.

"They collected it and our phones and spared our lives but not without giving me a knock on my forehead with the butt of the gun," Akande said.

Another tenant, Mr. Kingsley Ineh who is an artist was also injured in the forehead by the robbers.

According to the 29-year old who lives with his brother in the compound, the robbers were knocking on the window of their room and when he opened the window to see who was knocking, the robbers ordered him to open the door.

As he was trying to ask who they were, they hit him with an object on the forehead.

The robbers, according to people of the area, intended to rob all houses in the area but for the intervention of the police who responded to calls from the state Commissioner of Police who ordered them to go to the scene of the robbery.

The people of the area called the commissioner's office and informed him that the robbers had entered another compound in the area and collected money and valuables from the victims.

But they escaped when they heard the siren of the police vehicle approaching. The police team led by the Shagamu road Division DPO, Mr. Benard, came in five patrol vehicles but the robbers fled before the police got there.

Before his death, Kingsley worked as an electrician with Spintex Nigeria Plc but lost the job two years ago. Since then, he was doing menial jobs. His neighbours described him as a hard working and friendly person. His parents are still alive.

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"Psy Style" scores as Gangnam rapper readies new song

As South Korean rapper Psy readies what he hopes will be his next hit song, aiming for a repeat of the viral "Gangnam Style", retailers are keeping a close eye on what he wears, hoping another blockbuster will send sales surging.

From the tortoiseshell sunglasses to the two-toned Oxfords the chubby singer sported for his YouTube megahit, a wide range of brands - and Seoul's Gangnam district itself - have reaped rich rewards from the Psy effect.

Psy's stylist will say only that the 35-year-old will once more be clad in a suit for the new song, whose title also remains a secret. It will be released at an April 13 concert.

"The basic concept for his upcoming song is again a formal suit but with a humorous twist. I plan to add an unexpected twist of fun," Hong Hye-won told Reuters in an interview.

"I made a point with a bow tie back in the Gangnam look. There is something like that for the new song."

Psy's slicked hair and tuxedo jacket, in a broad range of electric colors, paired with a pleated white dress shirt and a black bow tie, run counter to the carefully manicured and primped young women and men typical of the K-Pop industry.

Much of what Psy wears is from his personal closet, since it is hard for him to find a suit that fits, Hong was quoted in a local newspaper as saying last year.

Both the Vivienne Westwood white shirt and the Thierry Lasry sunglasses he sports in the video, which made YouTube history by being the first to gain more than 1 billion views, are items he bought for himself some time ago, she was quoted as saying.

French eyewear designer Thierry Lasry has been besieged with questions about the two kinds of shades - the tortoiseshell, and black with gold temples, both called "The Variety".

"We have had a lot of requests from our customers who saw and loved his music video," said Clara Mercier, marketing manager for Thierry Lasry, who said the tortoiseshell version was a limited edition. The black ones go for 335 euros ($430).

"We obviously could have sold thousands had it not been a limited edition," Mercier added.

NOT SO TALL, NOT SO HANDSOME

Gabor, a German-based shoe maker, has also benefited. Psy's footwear was actually Christian Louboutin, but similar enough to one of Gabor's styles to send Korean sales shooting up 100 percent in September 2012 from a year before.

"Before Psy, Oxfords were not exactly popular," said Lee Hyung-joo, Gabor marketing manager. "But now everyone, man or woman, old or young, fashionable or not, wants to try the Oxfords Psy wears."

Psy's broad appeal appears to be the key. The YouTube video has now been viewed more than 1.4 billion times.

"He is not a typical model type of person - quite chubby, not so tall and not so handsome. But it does not matter," said shoe designer Jimmy Choo, in Seoul for a recent awards ceremony. "We feel he is like us, like the guy next door."

Gangnam, the upmarket Seoul suburb that has become a byword for affluence and consumption if not always good taste, has also seen a spillover effect that has kept its streets crowded - and the cash tills of its high-end stores ringing.

Tourist numbers have shot up 50 percent to 320,000 in January this year, compared with the same period in 2012, according to government data. Chinese tourists stand out although locals also spend more time in the area, especially Garosil-gil, the trendiest part.

"We think that Psy has brought 'Gangnam' closer to ordinary people, who were often uncomfortable with its luxurious, well-to-do image," said Jeong You-sook, an official at the Tourism Promotion Division of the Gangnam District office.

Choo agreed that Psy's appeal was infectious.

"Everyone, including myself, wants to try not just his dance moves but his fashion and his hairdo. Just like everyone was going as Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson in their heydays," he said.

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Policeman Shoots Student Over Stolen Phone

There was palpable tension at Ijegwu community in Obi local government area of Benue State following the alleged shooting of a student by a police officer, weekend, after a heated argument.

Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that the victim, Augustine Ajom, a student, allegedly engaged the police officer, who was armed with an AK 47 rifle, in a heated argument over a missing phone when the policeman allegedly shot him.

According to our source at Obarike-Ito, headquarters of Obi local government area, the police officer was part of a team dispatched to Oju on a special assignment from the Otukpo Area Command when the unfortunate incident occurred.

Vanguard gathered that the shooting of the student elicited angry reaction from members of Ijegwu community who went haywire and manhandled one of the policemen.

The angry villagers allegedly went further to set ablaze the Volkswagen Golf car which was used for the special mission by the policemen.

Meanwhile, victims of the mob attack and the shot student are said to be receiving treatment at the Obarike-Ito General Hospital after being transferred from a clinic at Itakpa.

Reacting to the incident, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Daniel Ezeala denied that the police shot anybody in the fracas.

According to him, "a mob in the said village attacked the police men on patrol duties, for an unjustifiable reasons; they also went a step further to set ablaze their car after thoroughly manhandling one of the police men. There is no truth in their claim that our men shot a student of the community before the attack; it is absolutely false".

In his reaction after visiting the scene of the crisis, Chairman of Obi local government council, Mr Odeh Michael appealed to the people of Ijegwu, Opirikwu and Okpokwu to remain calm and allow the law take its full course in the matter.

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LASU killings: 34 Arrested Students Face Extra Year

No fewer than 34 students of the Lagos State University have missed the first semester examinations which began on Monday. The students are currently in police detention following the killings of two students of the institution. The implication of this is that the students will automatically carry over all their courses.

The development could also lead to some of them having extra year because some of the courses must be passed before advanced level of the courses could be studied. Over 70 students were arrested in connection with the killings of two students of the school, Hip Hop artiste, Damilola Olaniyan aka Damino Damoche and Kabiru Atoyebi.

It was learnt that after the suspects were screened at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, about 36 students were released while others remained in custody. The Students Union Government of the institution had appealed to the school authorities to ensure the suspected students were allowed to participate in the examination, while their interrogation continued. According to a source in the school, who pleaded anonymity, the SUG feels that the students do not deserve to be treated like criminals since they have not been found guilty.

He said, "The students were indiscriminately arrested in their hostels by policemen and abandoned in the cell since March 3, 2013." But the SUG's Public Relations Officer, Adeleke Stephen, said, "This is a clear example of the effect of cultism. I see no reason why students should not face their education. For the good of all, I advise all students on campus to avoid engaging in cultism and all acts that may lead to disorderliness."

All efforts to speak with the spokesperson for the institution, Sola Fosudo, proved abortive as all calls made to his telephone rang out. The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. John Obafunwa, when contacted, directed our correspondent to his deputy. However, a senior official of the school, who craved anonymity, said it was not LASU's fault that the students missed sitting for the examination. He added that the school would not make any concession for them.

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