In a major breakthrough against human trafficking, 231 Nigerian youths, some as young as 15, have been rescued and repatriated from Ghana after enduring months of exploitation, confinement, and abuse.
The victims, made up of young boys and girls aged 15 to 38, were trafficked from various states across Nigeria and forced into cybercrime operations under harsh and inhumane conditions. Many of them were held in tight, overcrowded rooms, physically assaulted, and coerced to work for their captors.
Coordinated Rescue Led by NiDCOM and FG
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) announced the successful rescue and return of the victims on Saturday via a statement shared on X.com (formerly Twitter). The operation was the result of a multi-agency collaboration involving NiDCOM, the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, the Office of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Wema Bank.
According to NiDCOM, the rescue followed months of engagement between Nigerian authorities, the Ghanaian government, and advocacy from Chief Callistus Elozieuwa of Rescue Live Foundation International. The intervention culminated in a formal agreement that led to the release of the trafficked Nigerians and their safe return.
“Most of the victims were exploited for cybercrime and endured confinement and abuse before their rescue,” the commission said.
Heartbreaking Details Emerge from Victims
Earlier reports revealed that 219 of the victims were found crammed into 25 small rooms in a residential estate in Accra. Some had visible injuries, and one victim reportedly suffered broken legs after failing to meet his captor’s daily financial targets, exposing the horrifying conditions in which they were held.
Upon arrival in Nigeria, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) profiled the returnees and coordinated their handover to respective state governments for rehabilitation, reintegration, and empowerment.
Victims From 14 Nigerian States
The victims hail from over a dozen states, including:
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Edo (76), Delta (17), Imo (19), Bayelsa (13), Anambra (6), Enugu (12), Ebonyi (8), Cross River (7), Abia (9), Niger (4), Akwa Ibom (3), Kogi (6), Ondo (1), and Osun (1).
This geographic spread underscores the nationwide vulnerability of Nigerian youth to cross-border trafficking networks.
Nigeria’s Minister Issues a Stern Warning
During a visit to Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, expressed deep appreciation for Ghana’s swift action. She also warned Nigerian youths to beware of fake job offers and overseas opportunities that often serve as fronts for human trafficking.
“Don’t fall for sugar-coated promises. Many of these offers are traps,” she warned.
NiDCOM commended Ghana’s EOCO for their role in providing care for the victims during their ordeal and praised the inter-agency cooperation that made the rescue possible.
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