78 Nigerian girls and young women who were trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire have been safely brought back to Nigeria in a major move against human trafficking.
They arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday. Officials from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, received them. Some of the girls were said to be pregnant.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Dr Binta Bello, who welcomed them, said this rescue shows Nigeria’s strong commitment to fight human trafficking.
“Today marks not only their safe return but a reaffirmation of our unwavering commitment to ending the scourge of human trafficking,” she said, calling the girls “rescued daughters of the nation.”
She also said some of the traffickers had been arrested and would face the law. Though she did not give full details, she confirmed that NAPTIP is working with international partners to stop the criminal networks behind the trafficking.
The rescue was made possible through the combined efforts of the Nigerian government, international organisations, and private support. Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, brought the girls back at no cost.
“Your courage and survival symbolize hope for thousands still trapped in the shadows. You are home, and this country stands with you,” Bello told the returnees.
She thanked the Federal Government for its continued support of NAPTIP’s work and appreciated civil society and global partners. She added that the girls would receive medical care and join rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
Dr Bello also asked Nigerians to report any suspicious activity around them. She said many girls and women are still being tricked with fake job offers and trafficked to countries in West Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
“Together, we can build a Nigeria where no one is sold, abused, or forgotten,” she said.
The Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, also spoke at the airport. He said he personally got involved because he could not wait for the government to act.
“What happened to these girls is atrocious and must be condemned by everyone. Some are just 13, 14 years old. I didn’t wait for the government—I had to act. We cannot wait for the government for everything,” he said.
He added that the rescue operation cost his airline about ₦400 million in cancelled and delayed flights, but said the money does not matter.
“This is a national assignment. It’s not about money. There’s no amount of money that can equate to life. We are talking about restoring humanity,” Onyema said.
He also announced that all 78 girls would receive free medical treatment at Duchess International Hospital. The girls would be tested for pregnancy, HIV, and other health problems caused by the abuse they suffered.
“Some of them are pregnant. We need to test them for HIV. We must protect not only them but the entire population they will reintegrate into,” he added.
Onyema said Air Peace would also fund their full rehabilitation and promised continued support for the remaining girls still in Côte d’Ivoire.
“We have already enrolled them at Duchess Hospital. All 150 on our list, whenever they arrive, will be taken care of. No one should be made to feel subhuman again,” he said.
He called on Nigerians to unite and stop dividing themselves by tribe or religion.
“Nigeria is already stigmatized globally. We don’t need to add ethnic or religious divides to our problems. We need broad nationalism—fighting for each other, not against each other,” Onyema said.
The 78 girls are the first group of 150 Nigerians who are being rescued from Côte d’Ivoire. Air Peace said it would keep bringing back the others as plans are completed.
The returnees were met by immigration officers, hospital staff, and human rights workers. Many of the girls were in tears, overwhelmed with emotion and relief as they stepped off the plane.
