By Ameh Gabriel
Accra, Ghana: The Federal Government of Nigeria has praised Ghanaian authorities for rescuing 219 young Nigerians who were trafficked into the country and forced to engage in cybercrimes.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, conveyed the appreciation during a visit to the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) in Accra, where the victims were being held for care and assessment.
This was disclosed in a statement signed on Thursday 24th April 2025, by Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media
According to the statement, during a closed-door meeting with EOCO’s Executive Director, Mr. Bashiru Dapilah, and his team, the Minister lauded the professionalism of Ghanaian operatives, especially in treating the victims with dignity despite the circumstances of their rescue.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who was in Ghana for the 50th anniversary celebration of ECOWAS and the Extraordinary Session of its Council of Ministers, condemned the exploitation of the youths, describing human trafficking as “modern-day slavery and a vile affront to human dignity.”
She revealed that the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana had earlier alerted her about the trafficking ring, which held the victims in deplorable conditions within a gated estate.
“Prior to their rescue, these boys were confined in about 25 rooms and used to carry out cybercrimes. Many were physically abused. One had his legs broken for failing to remit proceeds to their ringleader. Some could barely adjust to sunlight after being locked in dark rooms for weeks,” she disclosed.
Addressing the rescued youths, the Minister urged them to see their rescue as a second chance and warned others against falling for deceptive overseas job offers.
“Count yourselves lucky,” she said. “Next time, it might be in a country that has no diplomatic goodwill towards Nigeria. There are places where cybercrime attracts harsh penalties, and you may never return.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized the commitment of the Tinubu administration to youth empowerment through skills acquisition and technical education under the Renewed Hope Agenda. She encouraged the victims to take advantage of government programmes upon their return.
“We’re focusing on citizen-centered diplomacy. The goal is to protect and uplift Nigerians wherever they are,” she said.
The Minister also praised the collaboration between EOCO and Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and said she was moved by EOCO’s decision not to hand over the victims to Nigeria’s correctional system.
“It shows their intent to rehabilitate, not punish. That’s commendable,” she said.
EOCO’s Executive Director, Mr. Dapilah, detailed how the agency acted on intelligence to dismantle the trafficking ring, arresting not only the traffickers but also the estate owner who enabled the operation.
“This is not just a Nigerian problem. We suspect coordination between perpetrators in both countries. We need bilateral cooperation to bring all culprits to justice,” Dapilah stated.
He applauded the majority of Nigerians in Ghana for being law-abiding and contributing to the local economy, particularly in trade and hospitality.
The Nigerian Chargé D’Affaires to Ghana, Ambassador Dayo Adeoye, reiterated the importance of sensitization to prevent more cases of trafficking, noting that over three million Nigerians currently reside in Ghana.
A total of 231 rescued Nigerians, including others intercepted in similar operations, are expected to arrive in Lagos on Friday for rehabilitation and reintegration.
