The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has received 13 Nigerian nationals, including 12 women and a five-year-old boy, who were recently rescued from human traffickers in Ghana and Mali.
According to a statement released on Sunday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NiDCOM, 11 of the victims were rescued from Ghana, while two women were repatriated from Mali.
The victims from Ghana, aged between 16 and 30, are indigenes of Cross River (4), Benue (4), Imo (1), and Oyo (1) States, along with a young child. The two women rescued from Mali, aged 27 and 35, are from Adamawa State.
Speaking during the official reception held at NiDCOM’s Lagos Liaison Office, Mr. Dipo Odebowale, who represented NiDCOM Chairperson Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, revealed that the victims had been lured abroad with promises of legitimate employment. However, upon arrival, they were coerced into sex work and subjected to inhumane treatment.
“These young women and the child have suffered severe psychological and physical trauma. Their experiences underscore the urgent need for collaborative efforts to dismantle trafficking networks that exploit our citizens abroad,” Odebowale stated.
The returnees narrated harrowing tales of abuse, including sexual exploitation, threats, and severe beatings, particularly from Ghana-based traffickers. Some victims noted that they were locked up for months and forced into prostitution under life-threatening conditions.
NiDCOM affirmed its readiness to partner with the respective state governments of the victims for their full rehabilitation and reintegration into society. The commission also handed the returnees over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further profiling and psychosocial support.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa, in a separate statement, called for stricter enforcement of anti-trafficking laws and greater public awareness to prevent other young Nigerians from falling prey to human trafficking syndicates. “No one deserves to be subjected to such cruelty. The traffickers must be exposed and prosecuted,” she said.
The repatriation was made possible through collaborations with Nigerian missions in Accra and Bamako, alongside international partners committed to combating human trafficking across West Africa.
NiDCOM has continued to play a leading role in coordinating the return and reintegration of stranded or trafficked Nigerians, reiterating that diaspora protection remains a national priority.
