The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) received 66 trafficked Nigerians from Ghana on Saturday. The group, consisting of 59 women (including children) and seven young men, arrived at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post around 4:00 p.m.
Area Controller of the Seme Command, Abdullahi Adamu, stated that the rescue operation was a collaborative effort involving the NIS, the Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana, and their attaché in Ghana.
LooAdamu explained, “The rescue mission was our collaborative effort from here to Ghana, assisted by the high commissioner in Ghana. They helped us apprehend these individuals and then returned them to us. From here, we will hand them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), who will facilitate their return to their respective destinations. They are 66 in number, male and female.”
Adamu further mentioned that NIS is working closely with the Ghanaian government to combat human trafficking. He noted that the operation underscores the commitment of the Comptroller-General of NIS, Kemi Nandap, in fighting migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and protecting vulnerable migrants.
Detective Chief Inspector Kpeli Kofi from Interpol, representing the Ghanaian delegation, reported that the trafficked Nigerians were rescued through joint efforts with Ghana’s anti-human trafficking unit within the criminal investigation department. Inspector Mutilda Dellir of Ghana’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit added that they had received information about individuals arriving from Nigeria to Ghana a few months back. “We quickly interviewed them and realized someone may have influenced their move to Ghana with promises of better opportunities,” Dellir said. “They came with their children, some mothers bringing up to six children. It became apparent that traffickers brought them to Ghana under false pretenses. Consequently, we coordinated with the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana to bring them back. This is not the first collaboration between Ghana’s anti-human trafficking unit and NAPTIP.”
Dellir also mentioned that eight women were found engaged in prostitution in various locations in Ghana. She emphasized that human trafficking remains a significant issue in both Ghana and Nigeria, and authorities strive to identify and assist vulnerable individuals.
One of the rescued Nigerians, Uche John from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, shared her experience, saying she was lured to Ghana with promises of a better life but was forced into prostitution instead. She expressed relief at being back in Nigeria and said she had learned valuable lessons.
Earlier, on July 4, the Seme Area Command of NIS announced the rescue of five human trafficking victims in Côte d’Ivoire. The rescue was achieved through the efforts of Nigerian Immigration Attachés in Côte d’Ivoire, in collaboration with the Nigerian community and other partners in the country.
On July 20, the Federal Government reported the rescue of an additional 58 Nigerian women and children trafficked to Ghana. According to a statement by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols for Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, this brings the total number of rescued individuals to 105 in recent months.
