NiDCOM rescues 17 Nigerian girls tafficked to Ghana

17 Nigerian girls, aged between 18 and 29, have been rescued from a trafficking ring in Ghana and safely repatriated to Nigeria.

The operation, coordinated by the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police with support from the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NiDCOM) and the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, resulted in the arrest of five traffickers.

According to a statement from NiDCOM’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the victims were reportedly lured to Ghana with false promises of employment and subsequently forced into exploitative situations while being sworn to secrecy.

The rescued women hailed from various Nigerian states, including Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Edo, and Ebonyi.

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“This latest rescue operation brings to 130 the total number of girls repatriated from Ghana since July 2024,” Balogun noted, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of NiDCOM, credited Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her instrumental support in facilitating the safe return of the young women.

“NiDCOM is committed to protecting Nigerians in the diaspora under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes combating human trafficking,” she asserted.

Dabiri-Erewa expressed her determination to continue rescuing trafficked Nigerians and acknowledged the collaboration of various stakeholders. Williams Ayaregah, Director of Ghana’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, praised NiDCOM’s efforts, stating, “More than ever, traffickers must realize that Ghana is no longer a safe haven.”

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The operation, which took place in Kpone Katamanso, Tema, marked one of the largest single-operation arrests in recent memory. In addition to the rescued girls, two young men were also repatriated, one of whom had been previously detained in a Ghanaian prison.

Akinboye Akinsola, representing NiDCOM, facilitated the escort of the rescued women back to Nigeria, where they were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for rehabilitation and reintegration.