seventeen young Nigerian women trafficked to Ghana have been rescued and repatriated to Nigeria, according to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). The agency announced on Sunday that five traffickers linked to the operation have been arrested.

This latest rescue brings the total number of Nigerian girls returned from Ghana since July 2024 to 130, according to NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun. The coordinated operation involved the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police, the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Ghana, and the Nigerian High Commission in Accra.

NiDCOM Chairman, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed gratitude to Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her support in ensuring the safe return of the victims. She also praised Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, Chairman of NIDO Ghana’s Board of Trustees, and the Ghanaian police for their efforts in bringing the traffickers to justice.

Dabiri-Erewa reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to protecting Nigerians in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes combating human trafficking and safeguarding citizens both at home and abroad.

The rescued women, aged between 18 and 29, come from several Nigerian states, including Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Edo, and Ebonyi. They were deceived with false promises of employment in Ghana but were instead subjected to exploitation and forced to swear oaths of secrecy.

Balogun highlighted that more Nigerians remain trafficked, and efforts to rescue them will continue through collaboration with stakeholders.

Mr. Williams Ayaregah, Director of the Ghana Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, warned traffickers that Ghana would no longer serve as a haven for such activities. The operation, which took place in Kpone Katamanso, Tema, led to the arrest of five suspects.

NiDCOM representative Akinboye Akinsola escorted the rescued women back to Nigeria, where they were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and reintegration.

The statement also noted that two young men were repatriated, including one who had been detained in a Ghanaian prison. With NIDO Ghana’s help, the man was rehabilitated and has returned to his family in Anambra State.

This cross-border effort highlights NiDCOM’s dedication to eradicating human trafficking and underscores the importance of international collaboration in protecting Nigerians abroad.