Lagos — Eight Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana on the 26th of September 2024 have been rescued and returned to Nigeria, as the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) continues its battle against human trafficking.
The young victims, aged between 15 and 22, were brought back to Lagos, where they were formally handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further care.
NiDCOM Chairman and CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who received the girls at NiDCOM’s Annex Office in Lagos, expressed gratitude to Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (CON), for her unwavering support in facilitating the return of these young women.
The First Lady’s intervention, along with the collaborative efforts of various organizations, played a crucial role in securing their release.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa also recognized the key contributions of Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Ghana Chapter, the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana, and the Interpol units in both Nigeria and Ghana. Their efforts, she said, were instrumental in ensuring the safety of the girls and their return to Nigeria.
“These girls were lured to Ghana under false pretences of employment but were subjected to sexual exploitation. Their rescue and return symbolize our renewed commitment, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, to combat human trafficking and safeguard the rights of Nigerian citizens at home and abroad,” Dabiri-Erewa said during the handover gathering.
She further disclosed that the rescued girls, who come from different states across Nigeria, including Ebonyi, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Plateau, and Cross River, are now under the care of NAPTIP, which will provide them with secure accommodation as they begin their journey to rehabilitation and reintegration with their families.
In a troubling development, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa announced that all the rescued girls were tested for HIV, and four of them tested positive.
These individuals are currently receiving medical treatment and will continue to receive the necessary care before being reunited with their families.
Meanwhile, a 28-year-old Nigerian trafficker, Ms. Favour Ugwu has been arrested and sentenced to eight years in prison by a Ghanaian court for her involvement in human trafficking.
Her conviction marks a significant win in the ongoing efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks between Nigeria and Ghana.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa, via her official X (formerly Twitter) account, reiterated that more trafficked victims remain stranded in Ghana and other parts of the world, awaiting rescue.
She extended her appreciation to Ghanaian security agencies for their cooperation in the ongoing fight against human trafficking.
INN-HOUSE☆ 