In a major crackdown on human trafficking, 10 Nigerian girls aged between 15 and 18 years old have been rescued from a prostitution ring operating in Ghana.
The girls, eight from Imo State and two from Plateau State, were lured into Ghana under the guise of being offered “sales girl” jobs.
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, personally visited Ghana and met with the rescued victims.
She strongly condemned the act of human trafficking and praised the efforts of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Ghana, led by Calistus Elozieuwa, for conducting the rescue operation.
“We must declare a war against human traffickers,” Dabiri-Erewa stated, emphasizing the need for a permanent solution to eradicate this menace in Nigeria. She called on parents to monitor their children closely and urged collective efforts to identify and prosecute traffickers.
The rescue was a collaborative effort involving representatives from the Imo State Government, the Eze Igbo of Ghana (leader of the Nigerian community in Ghana), and the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Amb. Adeoye Ifedayo.
The rescued girls will be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for counseling and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families in their respective states.
Both the Imo and Plateau State Governments have pledged their support for the welfare and rehabilitation of the rescued girls. Discussions were also held with senior members of the Ghanaian Police, who assured their cooperation in the fight against human trafficking.
The suspect involved in the trafficking ring has been arrested and is currently in security custody. Investigations are ongoing to unravel the entire network behind this heinous crime.
