- 27 suspected traffickers among returnees
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) yesterday received 231 Nigerians repatriated from Ghana, including 27 individuals identified as suspected traffickers.
The returnees, who were handed over to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and NAPTIP by the Government of Ghana through the office of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), arrived Nigeria following a major crackdown on a human trafficking and cybercrime syndicate uncovered in a gated estate in Ghana.
Of the total number, four are women believed to have been victims of trafficking. The rest were young Nigerian men, some of whom had spent years in captivity, allegedly used for cyber fraud by syndicate heads operating from Nigeria.
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All returnees received food and a stipend to support their journey back to their respective states.
Chairman of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, praised Ghanaian authorities for their swift action, noting that the operation exposed how trafficking networks continue to evolve.
“This is a wake-up call for West Africa. The ECOWAS community must take trafficking and illegal migration more seriously. The traffickers exploit the free movement of persons to lure and trap victims,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
She encouraged the returnees to hold their heads high and not feel ashamed of their experiences, emphasising that they were victims of trafficking and not at fault.
“Feel at home—you have nothing to be ashamed of,” she said.
“We are receiving you on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, who is deeply concerned about your welfare.”
She urged them to adopt a positive mindset and believe in their potential to thrive in Nigeria.
“I encourage you to embrace an ‘I can succeed in my country’ attitude and strive to become honorable, productive citizens. May God grant you the strength, courage, and grace to rebuild your lives and succeed legitimately,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa disclosed that the governors of the returnees’ respective states had been duly notified of their arrival and were expected to provide necessary support to aid their rehabilitation and reintegration.
She expressed gratitude to Wema Bank for facilitating the transportation of the returnees and acknowledged the support of the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria.
The returnees hail from various states across Nigeria, with the highest number from Edo.
The full breakdown includes Edo (76), Delta (17), Bayelsa (13), Imo (19), Enugu (12), Ebonyi (8), Anambra (6), Abia (9), Cross River (7), Akwa Ibom (3), Niger (4), Kogi (6), Ondo (1) and Osun (1).
Speaking during the handover in NAPTIP office in Ikeja, an official of the EOCO, in the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Dominic Mensah, revealed that the bust, codenamed Operation Rescue Shield, followed a tip-off about illegal activities being carried out in 26 houses within a single estate in Ghana.
He said: “We received a complaint on March 28th from an informant alleging that a group of Nigerians were using young people for cybercrime.
“Surveillance was carried out, and we launched the operation at 3:30 a.m. one week ago with support from national security and police services.
“A total of 233 persons were initially arrested.”
Mensah added that the victims had been lured to Ghana under the pretext of getting jobs but ended up being trapped and forced into cybercrime. Many had spent between a few weeks and several years in the facility.
Receiving the returnees on behalf of NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Bello, the Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Comfort Agboko, assured that the agency would thoroughly profile all returnees and provide comprehensive support to the victims.
“After profiling, NAPTIP will commence rehabilitation and reintegration processes for the actual victims,” Agboko stated.
“The 27 suspected traffickers among them will be interrogated and handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.”
On the reintegration plan, NAPTIP said it would work with state governments to return victims to their communities. “We have their states of origin, and we expect the governors to assist. Edo State has the highest number — 76 out of 231,” Agboko said.
She also confirmed that the youngest returnees are minors, with twelve of them under the age of 18.
Officials emphasised the need for awareness campaigns, especially targeting youth and parents.
“Many of the victims were trafficked by people they trusted; relatives or family friends,” a NAPTIP officer added.
“If your child is promised a job abroad and told not to inform you, that is a red flag,” EOCO’s Mensah warned.
“Victims were told they would work in supermarkets or offices, only to end up trapped in cybercrime rings.”
Dabiri-Erewa urged the media to join the fight. “We need to name and shame traffickers. They are as dangerous as drug barons,” she said.