Three Nigerian teenagers — Divine, Favour, and Bright, aged between 17 and 19 — have been rescued from a sex trafficking ring in Ghana and safely returned to Nigeria, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed.
The young victims, originally from Bayelsa and Ebonyi states, were lured to Ghana under the pretense of lucrative job offers by women they referred to as their “aunties”.
Instead, they found themselves trapped in a network of forced sex work, according to a statement released on Friday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit at NiDCOM.
They were officially received at NiDCOM’s Lagos office on Thursday, where they were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further profiling, counseling, and reintegration.
Speaking on the development, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, reiterated the Commission’s resolve to tackle human trafficking and called for greater accountability in Nigerian communities.
“Human trafficking will persist if traffickers and their agents are not exposed and shamed,”; Dabiri-Erewa said. “It’s a global issue, and until we stop covering up for those responsible, it won’t end.”
She also commended Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, Chairman of the NIDO Ghana Board of Trustees, for his consistent efforts in rescuing trafficked Nigerians. The Nigerian Embassy in Ghana was also acknowledged for its role in the successful operation.
In addition, she extended appreciation to Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, for facilitating the teenagers’ transportation back home.
According to NiDCOM, over 169 Nigerians have been rescued and repatriated from Ghana in recent months following similar trafficking and exploitation schemes.
