By Prosper Meneย
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has successfully received 13 Nigerian citizens, including 12 young women and a five-year-old boy, who were rescued from human trafficking networks in Ghana and Mali. The announcement was made in a press statement by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NiDCOM, on Sunday.
The rescued individuals, comprising 10 women aged 16 to 30 from Ghana and two women aged 27 and 35 from Mali, hail from Cross River (4), Benue (4), Imo (1), Oyo (1), and Adamawa (2) states. According to NiDCOM, the victims were lured with false promises of lucrative job opportunities, only to be forced into prostitution and subjected to sexual abuse, physical assault, and emotional trauma.
Speaking on behalf of NiDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Mr. Dipo Odebowale, Head of NiDCOMโs Lagos Liaison Office, recounted the victimsโ harrowing experiences. โThe girls from Ghana were deceived with job offers but coerced into prostitution. The women from Mali shared similar stories of deception and abuse,โ Odebowale stated. Dabiri-Erewa called for the prosecution and public exposure of traffickers to combat modern-day slavery, emphasizing NiDCOMโs commitment to protecting Nigerians under President Bola Ahmed Tinubuโs Renewed Hope Agenda.
The rescue operation was a collaborative effort involving the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police, the Nigerian High Commission, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Ghana. The victims have been handed over to NAPTIP for profiling, rehabilitation, and reintegration, with NiDCOM ensuring coordination with state governments for family reunification.
This latest rescue brings the total number of trafficked Nigerians repatriated from Ghana since July 2024 to 176, following earlier operations that saved 163 victims. NiDCOM expressed gratitude to key stakeholders, including First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, and Chief Callistus Elozieuwa of NIDO Ghana, for their support in facilitating the safe return of the victims.
Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to authorities, reiterating the need for continued awareness to curb human trafficking. โWe must work together to end this menace and protect our citizens, both at home and abroad,โ she said.
