Eight young girls trafficked to Ghana have been rescued and safely returned to Nigeria, adding to the earlier rescue of 105 girls from the same country.
While welcoming the girls in Lagos, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), expressed gratitude to First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her role in facilitating their return.
Gabriel Odu, a spokesperson for NiDCOM, stated that the rescued girls have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). This ensures they receive safe and comfortable accommodations while awaiting formal rehabilitation and reintegration with their families.
The rescued girls, aged 15 to 22, come from various states across Nigeria, including Ebonyi, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Plateau, and Cross River. They were reportedly lured to Ghana with false promises of employment but ended up facing sexual exploitation.
Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the continued presence of many trafficking victims still awaiting rescue and expressed appreciation for the cooperation of Ghanaian security agencies. She also acknowledged the efforts of Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Ghana Chapter, as well as the Nigerian embassy in Ghana and the Interpol units in both countries.
Emphasizing the Nigerian government’s commitment to combatting human trafficking, Dabiri-Erewa noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aims to protect the rights of Nigerian citizens both domestically and abroad.
In related news, a 28-year-old Nigerian trafficker, Ms. Favour Ugwu, has been sentenced to eight years in prison in Ghana for her involvement in human trafficking.
