The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has announced the rescue and repatriation of three Nigerian teenagers trafficked to Ghana under the pretence of job opportunities. Authorities describe the incident as part of a growing trend of exploitation by trusted relatives.
In a statement released on Friday by the Commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, it was revealed that three young women—Divine, Favour, and Bright, aged between 17 and 19—fell victim to sex trafficking. The girls were reportedly deceived by individuals they referred to as their “aunties,” who enticed them with false promises of job opportunities in Ghana.
“This form of betrayal by those they trusted as family is one of the most painful aspects of these trafficking cases,”
The girls, who hail from Bayelsa and Ebonyi states, were received at NiDCOM’s Lagos office on Thursday and handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for profiling and reintegration.
NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, condemned the growing silence surrounding human trafficking networks and called for greater accountability.
“Human trafficking will persist if traffickers and their agents are not exposed and shamed,” she said. “It’s a global issue, and until we stop covering up for those responsible, it won’t end.”
Dabiri-Erewa also praised Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, Chairman of the NIDO Ghana Board of Trustees, for his ongoing support in rescue operations, and thanked the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana for its role. She further appreciated First Lady Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu for providing transport support to the rescued girls.
