By Ameh Gabriel
In a bold humanitarian mission, the Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully repatriated 78 Nigerian victims of human trafficking from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The returnees arrived at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard a late-night Air Peace flight around 11 p.m. on Saturday. The operation, facilitated at no cost to the government, was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The rescue effort was made possible through a strategic collaboration involving the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Nigerian Community in Côte d’Ivoire, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding Nigerians from the horrors of human trafficking. “The Nigerian government will never relent in protecting its citizens from the cruelty of human trafficking,” he stated.
The Ministry also lauded the patriotic gesture of Air Peace Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, for providing free airlift services for the victims, describing it as a significant act of national service.
Upon their arrival, the returnees were received by officials and are currently undergoing debriefing and profiling by NAPTIP and other relevant agencies.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to dismantling trafficking networks, prosecuting offenders, and strengthening collaboration with local and international partners to end the menace of human trafficking.
