The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, recently visited ten Nigerian girls who were trafficked to Ghana for prostitution under the pretense of being employed as salesgirls. This visit follows the successful intervention and rescue of these young victims.
In a strong condemnation of human trafficking, Dabiri-Erewa expressed her disapproval of such heinous acts. The Public Relations Department of NiDCOM, through Gabriel Odu, issued a statement on Monday detailing the rescue of the girls, who are predominantly from Imo State (eight) and Plateau State (two). The suspect involved in this trafficking case has been apprehended and is in security custody.
The case gained significant attention after videos surfaced on Twitter last Friday, showing the girls, aged 15 to 18, who had been deceived and forced into prostitution in Ghana. The rescue operation was conducted by the Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation in Ghana, with significant efforts led by Calistus Elozieuwa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
During her visit, Dabiri-Erewa commended Elozieuwa and his team for their swift action and dedication. The operation saw collaboration from various stakeholders, including representatives from the Imo State Government, the Eze Igbo of Ghana, and the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Adeoye Ifedayo.
Dabiri-Erewa underscored the urgency for a sustainable solution to eliminate human trafficking in Nigeria, declaring a “war against human traffickers.” She urged parents to vigilantly monitor their children’s whereabouts and called for collective efforts to identify and prosecute traffickers.
The rescued girls are set to be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for counseling and rehabilitation before returning to their respective states. Both the Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Amara Iwuanyanwu, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs of Imo State, Nkechinyere Ugwu, reaffirmed their commitment to the welfare and rehabilitation of the rescued girls. Similarly, the Plateau State Government has pledged its full support for the rehabilitation process.
Discussions were also held with senior members of the Ghanaian Police, who assured their cooperation in the ongoing fight against human trafficking. The collaborative efforts between Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities highlight the critical importance of international cooperation in combating such transnational crimes.
