The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has successfully repatriated 13 trafficked Nigerian girls from Ghana, bringing the total number of rescued victims to 163 since July 2024.
In a statement released on Friday, November 15 by NiDCOM spokesperson Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the commission highlighted the continued efforts to combat human trafficking, emphasising the collaborative nature of the operation that involved key stakeholders including the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police, Rescue Live Foundation International, and NIDO Ghana, with NiDCOM providing vital support.
The rescued girls, aged between 19 and 30, were reportedly lured to Ghana with promises of employment but were instead forced into exploitative conditions. They were subjected to labor under harsh circumstances, bound by secrecy oaths and controlled by traffickers who profited from their plight.
NiDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed gratitude for the successful operation, recognising the crucial role played by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, in facilitating the girls’ return. Dabiri-Erewa reiterated the commission’s unwavering commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to address human trafficking and safeguard citizens’ rights.
The victims, hailing from various Nigerian states, including Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna, and Rivers, were able to surrender voluntarily after hearing about previous rescue efforts in locations like Kpone Katamanso and Tema, Ghana.
Akinboye Akinsola, NiDCOM’s representative, accompanied the girls back to Nigeria, while Callistus Elozieuwa of the Rescue Live Foundation International and NIDO Ghana offered temporary shelter to the victims before their return. Elozieuwa underscored the importance of international cooperation in dismantling trafficking networks.
In a statement, Valentine Uzo, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Ebonyi State, assured that state authorities had already set in motion plans for the victims’ rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
NiDCOM’s latest success is part of its broader ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable Nigerians abroad and hold traffickers accountable, while offering survivors the support they need to rebuild their lives.
