A total of 231 Nigerian youths who were victims of human trafficking in Ghana have been successfully repatriated to Nigeria, following a coordinated rescue operation spearheaded by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
The Commission announced the development on Saturday via a statement on X.com, acknowledging the support of Wema Bank, the Office of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana.
According to NiDCOM, the victims, aged between 15 and 38, had been held under harsh conditions and were forced into cybercrime operations after being trafficked. “The majority of these young boys and girls were confined, abused, and exploited for cybercriminal activities before they were rescued,” the commission said.
The operation was the result of several months of engagement between the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, NiDCOM, and Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, BOT Chairman of Rescue Life Foundation International/NIDO Ghana, leading to an agreement with Ghanaian authorities for the victims’ release.
Giving a breakdown, NiDCOM revealed that the returnees hailed from various states, including Edo (76), Delta (17), Bayelsa (13), Imo (19), Enugu (12), Ebonyi (8), Cross River (7), Abia (9), Anambra (6), Niger (4), Akwa Ibom (3), Kogi (6), Ondo (1), and Osun (1).
Upon their arrival in Nigeria, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons profiled the returnees and handed them over to their respective state governments for rehabilitation, reintegration, and empowerment.
NiDCOM commended Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for its role in the operation, stating, “We appreciate the professionalism and care shown by the EOCO in handling the case and ensuring the well-being of our citizens while in custody.”
The rescue mission followed an earlier raid by Ghanaian authorities, where 219 Nigerian victims were discovered confined within 25 rooms in a residential estate in Accra. Reports indicated that some of the victims sustained injuries, with one youth reportedly suffering broken legs for failing to meet illicit financial targets.
During a visit to the EOCO in Accra, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, expressed deep gratitude to the Ghanaian government for the rescue effort. She also issued a stern warning to Nigerian youths, urging them to be cautious of fraudulent overseas job offers.
“Many of these so-called employment opportunities abroad are fronts for human trafficking. We must educate our young people to recognize and avoid such dangerous traps,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
The Nigerian government reaffirmed its commitment to tackling human trafficking and pledged continuous collaboration with international partners to safeguard the rights and dignity of its citizens.
