The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully rescued 58 additional women and children who were trafficked to Ghana.
This operation brings the total number of Nigerian citizens rescued from human trafficking in Ghana to 105 over the past few months.
In June, the government had previously rescued at least 10 teenage girls aged between 15 and 16 from trafficking and prostitution. The girls had been lured to Ghana with promises of a better life but were instead forced into prostitution.
In a statement released on Saturday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), it was noted that this latest rescue involved 47 individuals from Kano, five from Katsina, two from Jigawa, and four from Kaduna.
Balogun said, “A total number of 58 new set of Nigerian women and children were rescued from Human Traffickers in Ghana thus bringing the total number of rescued Nigerians in Accra in the last three months to 105.”
He added, “The rescued women and children are on their way back to Nigeria where they will be properly profiled and counseled by NAPTIP, reunited with their families, and rehabilitated by their various state governments.”
The statement also confirmed that 11 of the earlier rescued girls had been repatriated to Nigeria. Balogun noted, “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.”
Some of the suspected traffickers have been apprehended and handed over to security agencies for necessary profiling and prosecution. “Some of the suspected agents have equally been apprehended and handed over to security agencies and NAPTIP for necessary profiling and prosecutions,” Balogun stated.
