Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has rescued and brought back more girls trafficked to Ghana

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, in collaboration with other stakeholders, have rescued another set of 13 trafficked girls from Ghana.

This brings it to 163, the total of trafficked girls, rescued and repatriated back to the country within five months.

The Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NIDCOM, Abuja, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists,

He pointed out that the 163 included the 13 girls that were rescued and brought back to Nigeria over the weekend.

He said that the rescued operation was as a result of the combined and coordinated efforts of the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police, The Rescue Live Foundation International, and NIDO Ghana.

Balogun said the rescued young girls, aged 19 to 30 years, are from Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna and Rivers states.

They were lured to Ghana under the false promises of employment but were instead forced into exploitative situations and bound by an oath of secrecy, while the traffickers are making money off the dastardly act.

NiDCOM representative, Mr Akinboye Akinsola, who accompanied the ladies back to Nigeria, where they were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for rehabilitation and reintegration, said the set of ladies surrendered themselves willingly, having heard of the earlier operation conducted in Kpone Katamanso and Tema.

Chief Callistus Elozieuwa said with Rescue Live Foundation International/NIDO Ghana’s assistance, the ladies were provided shelter for some days after they all willingly indicated their interest to come back home.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Valentine Okike Uzo, thanked the governor for his willingness to bring the ladies back home in line with his efforts to care for all Ebonyi indigenes both home and in the Diaspora.

He assured that all efforts were in place to ensure a proper rehabilitation for the victims from Ebonyi state.

Reacting to the latest development, the Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, thanked wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, for their support in facilitating the safe return of the girls back to the country.

She also commended the vital roles played by Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, BOT Chairman (Rescue Live Foundation International/NIDO Ghana), and the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police Unit, in bringing the traffickers to justice.

Dabiri-Erewa reiterated NiDCOM’s commitment towards protecting Nigerians in the diaspora under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which gave priority to combating human trafficking and safeguarding the rights of Nigerian citizens at home and in the Diaspora.

meanwhile

Gunmen believed to be cultists shot and killed a physically-challenged man, Mutiu Akinbami, popularly known as Igor, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The attack happened at some minutes past six in the evening near the Brewery Bus stopband Olomoore Junction, causing tension among residents of the area. Eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen who were driving a tinted Toyota Hilux, ambushed Akinbami while he was on a motorcycle with his daughter.

Akinbami, a former Councilor of Abeokuta North LGA, was said to have been trailed from his residence in the Olomoore Federal Housing Estate. Witnesses from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) narrated how the attackers completed their mission and quicklyve at the Brewery Junction.

The killing has stirred discussions across the metropolis, with many claiming Akinbami was once an influential and feared member of the Eiye confraternity.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, has yet to confirm the report, though nvestigations are expected to throw more light on the circumstances surrounding the brazen act of violence