ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Seven more young girls trafficked to Ghana have been rescued and brought back to Nigeria, while five traffickers were arrested in Ghana with the help of Ghanian Anti Human Trafficking Police, NIDO Ghana and the Nigerian High Commission in Accra.
Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), 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, 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 Tinubu is committed to combating human trafficking and protecting the rights of Nigerian citizens both at home and in the Diaspora.
Furthermore, the Chairman 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.
“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 Akinboye Akinsola, who represented NiDCOM and escorted them back home, after which they were handed to NAPTIP”.
