The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has successfully rescued 17 Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana and facilitated the arrest of five traffickers. This brings the total number of repatriated girls from Ghana to 130 since July 2024.
These efforts were made possible through collaboration with the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police, the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Ghana, and the Nigerian High Commission in Accra.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, expressed her gratitude to Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (CON), for her support in ensuring the safe return of the young girls. She also acknowledged the contributions of Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, BOT Chairman of NIDO Ghana, and the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police Unit in bringing the traffickers to justice.
Dabiri-Erewa reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes combating human trafficking and safeguarding citizens’ rights both at home and overseas.
According to a statement from the Commission’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the rescued girls, aged 18 to 29, hail from various states, including Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Edo, and Ebonyi. They were lured to Ghana with false promises of employment but were instead forced into exploitative situations and bound by oaths of secrecy.
Dabiri-Erewa emphasized her determination to rescue more victims in collaboration with stakeholders, noting that many trafficked Nigerians remain in need of assistance. Williams Ayaregah, Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service, commended NiDCOM’s initiatives under Dabiri-Erewa’s leadership, stating, “More than ever, traffickers must realize that Ghana is no longer a safe haven.”
The operation in Kpone Katamanso, Tema, led to one of the largest single operations resulting in the apprehension of five traffickers. Akinboye Akinsola, representing NiDCOM, played a crucial role in escorting the rescued women back to Nigeria, where they were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and reintegration.
Additionally, two young men were repatriated, one of whom had been previously detained in a Ghanaian prison. With assistance from NIDO Ghana, this young man received rehabilitation and has returned to his home state of Anambra to reunite with his family.
This cross-national initiative highlights NiDCOM’s commitment to eradicating human trafficking and underscores the importance of international cooperation in protecting Nigerians abroad.
