17 NIGERIAN GIRLS RESCUED FROM TRAFFICKERS IN GHANA, FIVE ARRESTED 27-10-24
By Sadiq Aminu Seventeen young Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana have been rescued and repatriated to Nigeria, with five traffickers taken into custody.
This successful operation marks a significant step in the ongoing fight against human trafficking in West Africa.
The rescue effort was coordinated by the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police, the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Ghana, and the Nigerian High Commission in Accra.
This recent mission has raised the total number of Nigerian girls repatriated from Ghana to 130 since July 2024.
Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed appreciation for the support from Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in facilitating the safe return of the young women.
Dabiri-Erewa also acknowledged the dedication of Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, BOT Chairman of NIDO Ghana, and the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police in the arrest of the traffickers.
The rescued girls, aged 18 to 29, come from various Nigerian states, including Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Edo, and Ebonyi. NiDCOM’s Head of Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, reported that the girls were lured to Ghana with false promises of employment but were exploited and bound by oaths of secrecy.
NiDCOM pledged to continue efforts with local and international stakeholders to bring back Nigerians who are still stranded abroad.
Director of Ghana’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Mr. Williams Ayaregah, stressed that traffickers should no longer consider Ghana a safe haven, highlighting the significance of international cooperation in protecting Nigerians worldwide.