Human trafficking: NIDCOM rescues 200 victims in four months

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has rescued 200 human trafficking victims from Ghana in just four months.

According to reports, the chairman of NIDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos on Friday.

She received three young girls who were recently trafficked to Ghana but later rescued.

Two of the girls, aged 17 and 19, are cousins from Bayelsa. The third girl, aged 18, is from Akwa Ibom.

Dabiri-Erewa said the girls were lured with fake job offers and later forced into prostitution.

She revealed that the rescue succeeded through collaboration with NIDO Ghana, NAPTIP, and the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana.

Ghanaian Police and Nigeria’s First Lady’s Office also supported the rescue efforts.

The NIDCOM boss expressed concern over increasing cases of family members trafficking their own relatives.

“Most victims are deceived by people they trust aunts, uncles, family friends,” she said.

She confirmed that four suspects connected to this case have been arrested and will face prosecution.

Dabiri-Erewa also revealed that ten more survivors remain in Ghana and will be brought home soon.

The three girls will undergo profiling by NAPTIP and return to their families for rehabilitation.

She described one of the girls’ experiences, where her aunt promised her a boutique job in Ghana.

Instead, she and her cousin were forced into prostitution one day after arrival.

“We refused and ran away. A man saw us walking and took us to the police,” one of the victims said.

The police contacted Chief Calistus Elozieuwa, Chairman of NIDO Ghana, who arranged their return.

Another survivor said her aunt promised her a supermarket job but forced her into sex work instead.

“She beat me every day. I eventually gave up,” the girl said.

Dabiri-Erewa urged parents to watch their children closely and warned traffickers to expect no mercy.

She assured Nigerians that NIDCOM will continue supporting agencies to fight human trafficking.

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