8 Nigerians nabbed in sex den raid

MANILA, Philippines - Eight Nigerians were arrested and six girls were rescued in a police raid on a purported sex den in a hotel in Malate, Manila Wednesday night.

Lucky Nelson, 24; Dumalo Gbue, 25; Yerebbari Neemana, 29; Owki Baknanawe, 29; Sundah Korobriowei Mathew, 29; Gabriel Tekena, 28; Worlo Enyi, 25; Mark Jack, 24, are all students and residing at the Manila Manor Hotel along Bocobo street.

The raid stemmed from a complaint e-mailed to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s Project Angel Net website, CIDG chief Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said. A woman said her 14-year-old daughter and five other girls were reportedly being prostituted by the suspects at the hotel.

CIDG operatives arranged a rescue operation and proceeded to the hotel, where they noticed the suspects at the lobby at about 10 p.m. Pagdilao said the suspects were reportedly negotiating the services of the girls with a handler, later identified as Emma Cruz, for P1,500 each.

The complainant recognized one of the girls as her daughter. CIDG policemen arrested the suspects, but the handler escaped.

The CIDG is preparing to charge the Nigerians with violating laws prohibiting human trafficking and violence against women and children.