Mega Charismatic Fire Ministry Benin general overseer arrested for engaging in human trafficking

MEGA Charismatic Fire Ministry general overseer Pastor Marvelous Odalo has been arrested by the police in the Edo State capital Benin over his alleged involvement in human trafficking centred around sending young women abroad to become prostitutes.

Pastor Odalo, was arrested alongside his accomplice by the Edo State Taskforce against Human Trafficking for allegedly conniving with a sponsor in Russia to traffic a 22-year-old girl from the state. Apparently, security officials swooped following a tipoff from the girl who has since returned to Edo State from Russia.

Edo State and Benin in particular, are renown for being the source of a majority of the Nigerian prostitutes currently being trafficked into Europe. This latest victim claimed she and her sister were deceived by the pastor and his accomplice.

She said: “The pastor asked me to stand on top a white handkerchief and N1000 note on the altar. He then asked me to repeat what he was saying and that if I refuse to pay my madam, something bad will happen to me.

“I was asked to pay $50,000 and they told me that I was going to meet a woman who is pregnant in Russia and that I will assist her with domestic chores. They said I will also be working as a stylist in her saloon and I will pay them that amount since the work is thriving there.

"I never knew that the lady was neither pregnant nor married and when I got there, it was a different ball game. I was forced to engage in prostitution in Russia which I resisted, I rejected it and told them I will rather go home than sell my body to satisfy one greedy woman.”

According to the lady, she later met a Nigerian in Russia, who introduced her to an aide to the Edo State governor on human trafficking Solomon Okoduwa, who took her matter up. She has since returned to Nigeria but has been receiving threats from her madam, demanding a refund of the money spent on the journey to Russia.

She thanked the Edo State government for coming to her rescue and appealed for the government to intervene and help stop the threat to her life, as well as help her start up a business to enable her to earn a decent living. Mr Okoduwa, who facilitated the arrest, said the pastor and a woman who is an accomplice have been handed over to the Special Investigation Unit attached to the Government House for further investigation.

Edo is one of the worst hit states in Nigeria by human trafficking. Governor Godwin Obaseki's administration  has drawn commendations for its effort in tackling the menace.