NIDCOM: We’ve received 13 Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana — 163 victims rescued since July
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the spokesperson of the commission, said 163 trafficked girls have been repatriated to the country since July.
By Idris Temidayo
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) says it has rescued 13 trafficked Nigerian girls from Ghana.
In a statement on Friday, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the spokesperson of the commission, said 163 trafficked girls have been repatriated to the country since July.
“Among the 163 included the 13 girls that were rescued and brought back to Nigeria over the weekend,” the statement reads.
Balogun said the rescue operation followed the combined and coordinated efforts of the Ghanaian anti-human trafficking police, The Rescue Live Foundation International, and NIDO Ghana working in collaboration with NIDCOM.
He said Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson of NiDCOM, expressed her gratitude to the first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and Francis Nwifuru, the governor of Ebonyi, for their support in facilitating the safe return of the girls to the country.
She also commended the roles played by Callistus Elozieuwa, chairman of the board of trustees (BOT) of the Rescue Live Foundation International/NIDO Ghana, and the Ghanaian anti-human trafficking police unit in bringing the traffickers to justice.
Dabiri-Erewa reiterated NiDCOM’s commitment to protecting Nigerians in the diaspora under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, which she noted gives priority to combating human trafficking and safeguarding the rights of Nigerian citizens at home and in the diaspora.
The rescued girls, who are between the ages of 19 and 30 years old, are from Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna, and Rivers states.
Balogun said they were lured to Ghana under the false promises of employment but were instead forced into exploitative situations and bound by an oath of secrecy, while the traffickers were making money off the dastardly act.
He added that Akinboye Akinsola, the NiDCOM representative who accompanied the ladies back to Nigeria, said they surrendered themselves willingly, having heard of the earlier operation conducted in Kpone Katamanso and Tema.
