The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has received 13 Nigerians — 12 young women and a five-year-old boy — who were rescued from human trafficking operations in Ghana and Mali.
In a statement issued on Sunday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NiDCOM, Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa personally welcomed the returnees and commended their bravery.
According to the victims, they were lured with false promises of decent jobs abroad but ended up being exploited and forced into prostitution. Many of them recounted horrifying experiences of sexual abuse, violence, and emotional trauma while in captivity.
Dabiri-Erewa assured them of NiDCOM’s continued commitment to their safe reintegration into society. She pledged logistical support to help them reconnect with their families and said the Commission would liaise with state governors to facilitate their rehabilitation and empowerment.
She also called for urgent nationwide efforts to combat human trafficking, stressing the importance of prosecuting offenders and publicly exposing their identities as a deterrent against modern-day slavery.
