The Edo State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other related matters NAPTIP has arrested and tried 28-year-old Vivian Francis, pictured above, for luring her three siblings from Cross River State to the city of Benin into prostitution.

In a statement by the zone commander of NAPTIP, Ms Ijeoma Uduak, it was said that Vivian lured the victims, aged 15, 17 and 18, to the city of Benin under the pretext that she was helping them to secure jobs.

According to Uduak, Vivian was arrested in a popular hotel during the COVID-19 lockdown and confessed to the crime, which is punishable under Section 13 of the NAPTIP law.

Uduak said Vivian was charged before Judge Isoken Erameh of State High Court 3, Criminal Division, where she pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison or an option to a N 125,000 fine as a first-time offender.

“We cracked down hard on the condemned during the COVID-19 blockade in a popular hotel in Benin. She confessed to having gone to Cross River State to take the three girls aged 15, 17 and 18.

She told them that she had secured them jobs as barkeepers, but when they came to Benin, she began using them for prostitution and collecting the proceeds. She was arrested and charged with violating Section 13 of the NAPTIP law.

She pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with an option for a fine of N 125,000,” the statement said.

Uduak added that the victims were reunited with their family at Cross River State.

During the interrogation, Vivian said she regretted her actions.