Esther Salifu
13 Trafficked Nigerian Girls Rescued from Ghana, Bringing Total to 163 Since July
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has announced the repatriation of 13 trafficked Nigerian girls from Ghana, bringing the total number of rescued victims since July 2024 to 163.
NiDCOM’s spokesperson Abdur-Rahman Balogun, stated that
“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission alongside other stakeholders have rescued another set of 13 trafficked girls from Ghana, thus bringing the total repatriated back to the country within five months to 163,”
The rescued girls, aged between 19 and 30 years, were lured to Ghana with false promises of employment but were instead trapped in exploitative conditions.
NiDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts that made the operation possible, thanking the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, for their support.
Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that NiDCOM remains committed to protecting Nigerians abroad as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes combating human trafficking and safeguarding citizens’ rights. The girls, from Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna, and Rivers states, were forced into exploitative situations and bound by an oath of l, while traffickers profited from their plight.
This rescue is part of a larger effort to combat human trafficking in West Africa. In the past three months, at least 130 Nigerian girls have been rescued from Ghana, with five traffickers arrested in a major operation in Kpone Katamanso and Tema ¹. The girls were received by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and reintegration.
International cooperation has been key in tackling trafficking networks. Callistus Elozieuwa, Chairman of NIDO Ghana’s Board of Trustees, highlighted the importance of collaboration in combating human trafficking, while Valentine Uzo, Senior Special Assistant to the Ebonyi governor, assured that the state government has measures in place for the proper rehabilitation and reintegration of the rescued girls.
