17 Nigerian Women Freed From Human Trafficking In Ghana

Security/Crime

17 Nigerian Women Freed From Human Trafficking In Ghana

Reported by Ayooluwa Afolabi

Seventeen young Nigerian women reportedly trafficked to Ghana, have been rescued and returned to Nigeria, while five suspected traffickers were apprehended during the operation.

Abdur-Rahman Balogun, a spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), stated on Sunday that two young men were rescued also.

The women are aged 18 to 29 and come from various states, including Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Edo, and Ebonyi.

This development brought the number of repatriated women from Ghana to 130 since July.

“They were lured to Ghana under false promise of employment but were instead forced into exploitative situations and bound by an oath of secrecy,” Mr Balogun said.

According to Vanguard, the rescued girls have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and reintegration.

NIDCOM said the rescue operation was achieved through its partnership with the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police and the Nigerian High Commission in Accra.

Speaking on the rescue operation, the agency’s chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, thanked Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for her support in facilitating the young girl's return to the country.

She also commended the roles played by Callistus Elozieuwa, an official of NIDO Ghana, and the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police Unit in bringing the traffickers to justice.

“With NIDO Ghana’s assistance, the young man underwent rehabilitation and has now returned to his home state, Anambra, for family reintegration,” the statement reads.

“Dabiri-Erewa expressed her determination to rescue those still trafficked in conjunction with various stakeholders, noting that many more trafficked Nigerians are still awaiting rescue.

“The operation, conducted in Kpone Katamanso, Tema, resulted in one of the largest single-operation arrests, with five traffickers apprehended.”

According to the International Organisation for Migration, many Nigerian women are trafficked out of the country.

Due to limited work opportunities, young women fall victim and become particularly vulnerable to trafficking for sexual exploitation.kmkk