At least 13 Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana have been rescued, bringing the total number of trafficked victims repatriated since July 2024 to 163.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, announced this in a statement on Friday, November 15. He revealed that the girls were returned to Nigeria over the weekend.
“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, in collaboration with other stakeholders, has rescued another set of 13 trafficked girls from Ghana, bringing the total number repatriated in five months to 163,” the statement read.
The operation, conducted with the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police, Rescue Live Foundation International, and NIDO Ghana, was supported by NiDCOM.
The rescued girls, aged between 19 and 30, were lured to Ghana with false promises of employment but were trapped in exploitative conditions. The traffickers had bound them under an oath of secrecy while profiting from their plight.
NiDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa commended the coordinated efforts that led to the successful rescue. She thanked the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, for their roles in facilitating the repatriation process.
“She also acknowledged the vital contributions of Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, BOT Chairman of Rescue Live Foundation International/NIDO Ghana, and the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police Unit in ensuring justice is served,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
She reiterated NiDCOM’s commitment to protecting Nigerians in the diaspora under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises combating human trafficking and safeguarding the rights of Nigerians at home and abroad.
The rescued girls, hailing from Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna, and Rivers states, voluntarily surrendered after learning of previous rescue operations in Kpone Katamanso and Tema, Ghana.
Callistus Elozieuwa explained that Rescue Live Foundation International provided temporary shelter for the victims before their safe return to Nigeria. He emphasised the importance of international collaboration in dismantling trafficking networks.
Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Governor’s Senior Special Assistant, Valentine Uzo, assured that measures are in place for the proper rehabilitation and reintegration of the rescued girls.
