In a daring rescue operation, 17 Nigerian girls, aged 18-29, were freed from the clutches of human traffickers in Ghana. The victims, hailing from various Nigerian states, including Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Edo, and Ebonyi, were lured to Ghana under false promises of employment.
These young women were deceived with promises of lucrative jobs, only to find themselves trapped in exploitative situations. Sworn to secrecy, they suffered in silence, their dreams shattered by the harsh reality of human trafficking.
The Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police, in collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Ghana and the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, coordinated the rescue operation. This joint effort resulted in the arrest of five traffickers, marking one of the largest single-operation arrests in Ghana.
This rescue brings the total number of girls repatriated from Ghana to 130 since July 2024. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, praised Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her invaluable support in facilitating the rescue.
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Dabiri-Erewa also commended the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police Unit and NIDO Ghana’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, for their tireless efforts. This partnership underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating human trafficking.
NiDCOM reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerians in the diaspora under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. This agenda prioritizes combating human trafficking and safeguarding the rights of Nigerian citizens at home and abroad.
The Director of Ghana’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Williams Ayaregah, warned traffickers that Ghana is no longer a safe haven. This stance demonstrates Ghana’s resolve to tackle human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals.
The rescued women were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and reintegration. Two young men, including one previously detained in a Ghanaian prison, were also repatriated.
Akinboye Akinsola, representing NiDCOM, helped escort the rescued women back to Nigeria. His efforts ensured their safe return and transition to rehabilitation.
While this rescue is a significant victory, many Nigerians remain trapped in human trafficking situations worldwide. NiDCOM’s determination to rescue more trafficked Nigerians, with the help of stakeholders.
