The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has rescued 13 trafficked Nigerian girls from Ghana, bringing the total number of victims repatriated since July 2024 to 163.
In a statement released on Friday by NiDCOM’s spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the commission disclosed that the victims, aged 19 to 30, were lured to Ghana under false promises of employment but were trapped in exploitative conditions.
“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, alongside other stakeholders, has rescued another set of 13 trafficked girls from Ghana, thus bringing the total repatriated back to the country within five months to 163,” the statement read.
The rescue operation was a joint effort involving the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police, Rescue Live Foundation International, and the Nigerian Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Ghana, with the support of NiDCOM.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, commended the collaborative efforts that led to the successful rescue. She thanked First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru for their contributions to the repatriation process.
She reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, stating, “This operation aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises the fight against human trafficking and the safeguarding of citizens’ rights.”
The victims, who hail from Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna, and Rivers states, were reportedly made to take an oath of secrecy while their traffickers exploited them for financial gain.
Akinboye Akinsola, a NiDCOM representative who accompanied the victims back to Nigeria, said the girls surrendered willingly after learning about previous rescue missions in Ghana.
Callistus Elozieuwa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Rescue Live Foundation International/NIDO Ghana, noted that the organisation provided temporary shelter for the victims before ensuring their safe return. “This operation shows the importance of international cooperation in dismantling trafficking networks,” he said.
Valentine Uzo, Senior Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor, assured that measures were in place to rehabilitate and reintegrate the rescued girls into society.
