 |
UK-based Nigerian, Franca Asemota from Benin, Edo State, has been found guilty of eight counts of conspiracy to traffic young girls. Ms Asemota is said to have forced dozens of teenage orphans into prostitution and slavery using the threat of witchcraft.
She used Heathrow airport as a hub to traffic at least 40 girls and young women into Europe from remote villages in Nigeria with fake promises of jobs, education and a better life.
Asemota, 38, then used 'juju magic', threats and violence to force them in to the European sex trade. She was later arrested in Nigeria, extradited to the UK for trial and has now been sentenced to 22 years in prison.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service,
"These girls were from poor, rural backgrounds with little education or knowledge of the world. They were targeted because of this and promised legitimate jobs in Europe. Only when they were far away from their homes were they told the truth - that they would have to work as prostitutes.
"The traffickers used alleged juju magic to exert complete control over their victims, using rituals to 'curse' them and ensure their compliance. The girls were told that if they disobeyed their captors or tried to escape, the curse would cause them injury, infertility or even death.
"Although only five victims have been identified the evidence showed that she facilitated the trafficking of around 40 people, mainly young girls, between August 2011 and May 2012."
Source: Crown Prosecuting Service
No comments:
Post a Comment