231 trafficked Nigerians repatriated from Ghana with NiDCOM’s support

A total of 231 Nigerian boys and girls trafficked to Ghana have been rescued and brought back to the country through a coordinated effort led by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), according to a statement issued on Saturday. The victims were lured with false promises of lucrative jobs but were coerced into internet fraud before their rescue.

The rescue followed a raid conducted by Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) at an estate where they were lodged. According to Dominic Mensah, Head of Human Trafficking at EOCO, 27 suspected traffickers were arrested, and many victims were found sick, prompting swift repatriation to Nigeria to prevent a humanitarian crisis.

NiDCOM, with the support of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Wema Bank, facilitated the victims’ return. According to the statement, the victims were officially handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for profiling and support. The estate owner where they were kept is currently undergoing trial in Ghana.

The victims, aged between 15 and 38 years, came from various states, with Edo State accounting for the highest number at 76. Others came from Delta, Imo, Bayelsa, Enugu, Anambra, and several other states. Authorities assured that all those involved in the trafficking network would be arrested and prosecuted.

Receiving the victims in Lagos, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, encouraged them not to feel ashamed of their ordeal. She said they were being welcomed on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, assuring them of the government’s readiness to support their education or vocational training.

She appreciated key stakeholders who made the rescue possible, including Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Wema Bank, Chief Callistus Elozieuwa of NIDO Ghana, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, and Airtel, which provided starter packs for victims with National Identification Numbers (NIN).

Dabiri-Erewa emphasized the government’s determination to shame and prosecute human traffickers, just as it does with drug traffickers, stressing that no trafficker would go unpunished. She also called on state governments to support victims from their respective states.

Meanwhile, NAPTIP Zonal Commander, Comfort Agboka, said all victims would be thoroughly profiled, while the arrested suspects would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.