17 more young girls trafficked to Ghana have been rescued and brought back to Nigeria, while 5 traffickers were arrested in Ghana with the help of Ghanian Anti Human Trafficking Police, NIDO Ghana and the Nigerian high commission in Accra.
Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa thanked the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (CON), for her unwavering support in facilitating the return of the girls
Acknowledging the important role played by Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, BOT Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Ghana Chapter, and the Anti Human Trafficking Police Unit in Ghana, as well as the Nigerian high Commission Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed her satisfaction with the collaboration of the two countries in fighting human traffickers.
According to the NiDCOM Boss, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to combating human trafficking and protecting the rights of Nigerian citizens both at home and in the Diaspora.
Furthermore, the Chairman/CEO, said the rescued girls and the traffickers have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for proper rehabilitation and onward transfer to the various states.
The rescued girls, aged between 18 and 29, hail from various states across Nigeria, including Anambra, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Edo and Ebonyi ,were lured to Ghana under false promises of employment but were forced into sexual exploitation on getting to Ghana and were forced to take an oath of non disclosure and allegiance
She noted that there are still many more trafficked victims waiting to be rescued.
Williams Ayaregah, Director, Anti Human Trafficking Unit, Criminal Investigation of the Ghana Police Service commended NiDCOM under the leadership of Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for her unwavering commitment in rescuing these girls and most importantly for championing the arrest and prosecution of the traffickers, “over the years, the traffickers have been having good times because nobody is coming for them. We are happy to collaborate, this is why we have been recording success, let me repeat again, Ghana is not a safe place for traffickers and human trafficking”, he said
“On the 24th of October, we embarked on an operation at Kpone Katamanso, Tema Ghana. In the process, 5 Human Traffickers were arrested, and these victims were rescued during the operation, making it one of the highest arrests in a single operation.” said Mr. Akinboye Akinsola, who represented NiDCOM and escorted them back home,after which they were handed to Naptip.
According to Chief Calistus, “One of the two boys brought back was discharged from Prison with the help of NIDO Ghana during their visit to Ghana Prison and after going through rehabilitation in Ghana, the NiDCOM team decided to bring him back and return to his state, Anambra, and reunite with his family.
