MAASTRICHT - Six underage Nigerian girls were allegedly forced to work as prostitutes in the region between October 2008 and March 2010. The two prime suspects Peggy A. (28) and Blessing I. (26) allegedly forced them through a voodoo ritual.

The two appeared in court in Maastricht yesterday. A third suspect - Johan M. from Eindhoven - had not come to the hearing because the public prosecutor allegedly had his summons served too late. He would have been involved in the case of one of the victims. This girl would have undergone an abortion under duress from the suspects.A. would have forced all six victims into prostitution, I. five of the six.

In the criminal case, which was also scheduled for the rest of the week in court, justice also traveled to Nigeria to hear witnesses. The underage victims were said to be 13 and older and had been forced to work as prostitutes in several South Limburg municipalities, as well as in Germany and Belgium. One or more victims lived in a building on the Humcoverstraat in Meerssen, the justice department stated after a search of the house. The girls had to work many hours in a row, even when they had their periods. Refusing a customer was not allowed. They had to hand over a large part of their earnings to one of the main suspects because they owed her a debt of about 50,000 euros. During a voodoo ritual, they had to swear to silence. If they spoke anyway, it could mean their death. Their families in Nigeria were also put under pressure.

Voodoo is the religion that originated in West Africa. It combines belief in a creator assisted by lower gods, goddesses, ancestors and spirits. Sacrificial rituals play a central role in the lives of followers. The religion also has festivals in which a priest performs the sacrifices after which there is dancing, sometimes in a trance. The substance of the case was not heard yesterday because in the morning the prosecution added (in the alternative) human smuggling to the charges. Lawyers John van Halderen and Ivo van de Bergh now need more time for their defense. The cases have been held indefinitely. A. was still in pretrial detention, but she will be allowed to go home today provided she reports to police weekly.

This afternoon the case against a fourth suspect will be heard. She allegedly arranged passports for the victims from a hair salon on the Boschstraat in Maastricht.