The Federal Government has successfully rescued an additional 58 Nigerian women and children who were trafficked to Ghana, bringing the total number of rescued individuals to 105 in recent months.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media Public Relations and Protocols for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, announced this in a statement on Saturday.
This latest rescue operation is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and protect Nigerian citizens.
In June, the Federal Government rescued at least 10 Nigerian teenage girls, aged 15 and 16, from human trafficking and prostitution in Ghana. These girls had been lured to Ghana with promises of a better life but were instead forced into prostitution.
With the latest rescue, the total number of Nigerians rescued in Accra over the past three months now stands at 105.
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens from human trafficking and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice. These rescue efforts highlight the government’s determination to address human trafficking and provide support to its victims.
“Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, Chairman NIDO Board of Trustees in Ghana disclosed this to the Chairman/CEO, NIDCOM Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa when she stopped by to visit the trafficked victims at their location in Accra.”
Providing a breakdown of the states of the 58 rescued Nigerians, Balogun stated that 47 are from Kano, five from Katsina, two from Jigawa, and four from Kaduna.
“The rescued women and children are on their way back to Nigeria where they will be properly profiled and counselled, by NAPTIP, reunited with their families and rehabilitated by their various state governments,” the statement added.
He stated the earlier rescued girls had been repatriated to the country.
Balogun said, “Apart from the newly rescued ones, 11 more girls, earlier rescued and in the care of NIDO BOT Chairman, Chief Callistus Elozieuwa and the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana, Ifedayo Adeoye have also been repatriated back to Nigeria.”
Balogun noted that some of the suspected traffickers have been arrested and handed over to security agencies.
He said, “Some of the suspected agents have equally been apprehended and handed over to security agencies and NAPTIP for necessary profiling and prosecutions”.
