Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) secures repatriation of 231 Nigerian boys, girls trafficked to Ghana

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has secured the repatriation of about 231 Nigerian boys and girls who were trafficked to Ghana. The commission in a statement released on Saturday, April 26, said the process of repatriating these Nigerians was facilitated with support from the Office of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Wema Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana.

According to the commission, the returnees who are between the ages of 15 and 38 were trafficked and held in deplorable conditions.

NiDCOm also said that some of the survivors were forced in heinous activities like cybercrime, abuse and confinment.

It said that, “Most of the victims were exploited for cybercrime and endured confinement and abuse before their rescue.

“The boys and girls are ranging from 15 to 38 years from Edo (76 indigenes), Anambra (6 indigenes), Delta (17 indigenes), Bayelsa (13 indigenes), Imo (19 indigenes), Enugu (12 indigenes), Ebonyi (8 indigenes), Cross River (7 indigenes), Abia (9 indigenes), Niger (4 indigenes), Akwa Ibom (3 indigenes), Kogi (6 indigenes) Ondo (1 indigene), Osun (1 indigene) etc,” the statement said.

In addition, the returnees have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for profiling and subsequent dispatch to their respective state governments for rehabilitation, reintegration, and empowerment.