Newsie Events :
In a major step toward combating human trafficking in West Africa, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has welcomed back 13 victims — 12 young women and a five-year-old boy — who were rescued from trafficking syndicates in Ghana and Mali.
According to a statement released on Sunday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols, the victims were repatriated in two waves: 11 girls returned from Ghana, while two women were flown in from Mali.
The girls rescued from Ghana, all aged between 16 and 30, hail from four different states: Cross River and Benue (four victims each), Imo (one), and Oyo (one). The two women from Mali, aged 27 and 35, are from Adamawa State.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission’s Chairperson, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Lagos Liaison Office Head, Mr. Dipo Odebowale, explained that the young women were deceived with false job offers and promises of a better life abroad. Instead, they found themselves trapped in a brutal cycle of forced prostitution in Ghana.
The horrors didn’t end there. The Mali returnees recounted disturbing stories of repeated sexual abuse, physical violence, and deep emotional trauma. Their testimonies were shared with NiDCOM officials, including Mr. Balogun, underscoring the severity of their ordeal.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that NiDCOM is working closely with the victims’ home states to provide the necessary psychological support, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
She also renewed calls for the exposure of trafficking networks operating across the region and pressed for the prosecution of those involved in these crimes.
The victims have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which will continue their care, including profiling, counseling, and support services.
This rescue serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for regional collaboration in the fight against trafficking — and the importance of offering real hope and healing to its survivors.
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