Seventeen Nigerian women who were trafficked to Ghana have been rescued and safely returned to Nigeria, according to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). The operation, conducted with the help of Ghana’s Anti-Human Trafficking Police, marks a continuing effort to protect Nigerians abroad and hold traffickers accountable.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM spokesperson, said that since July 2024, 130 Nigerian women have been repatriated from Ghana, including these recent rescues from the Kpone Katamanso area in Tema. Five suspects tied to the trafficking ring have been arrested.
The rescued women, aged 18 to 29, hail from various states including Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Edo, and Ebonyi. Reports indicate they were lured to Ghana with promises of work but were instead exploited and forced to take oaths of secrecy. Balogun explained that NiDCOM representative Akinboye Akinsola accompanied the women on their return to Nigeria, where they were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for support and rehabilitation.
Williams Ayaregah, director of Ghana’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, emphasized Ghana’s determination to combat trafficking, saying, “More than ever, traffickers must realise that Ghana is no longer a safe haven.”
NiDCOM chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa praised the operation and expressed appreciation to Oluremi Tinubu, the Nigerian First Lady, for her support. Dabiri-Erewa reiterated NiDCOM’s dedication to protecting Nigerians worldwide, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In addition to the women, two young Nigerian men were also repatriated, including one previously detained in Ghana. With support from the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Ghana, the young man received rehabilitation and has since been reunited with his family in Anambra.
