Seme Area Command of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Saturday evening, received sixty-six (66) who were trafficked, from Ghana.
Gatekeepers News reports that the trafficked Nigerians, which included 59 women and children and seven men arrived at Seme-Krake Joint Border Post office of immigration at about 4.00.p.m.
Area Controller of Seme command of NIS, Comptroller Abdullahi Adamu while briefing the press noted that the rescued efforts were in collaboration with High Commissioner in Ghana.
He said, “The rescue mission was our collaborative efforts from here to Ghana, our Attache in Ghana with the assistance of the high commissioner in Ghana.”
“They assisted us in apprehending these people and then they returned them to us. Now, from here will hand them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), from where they will find their way back to their different destinations.”
“They are 66 in number, male and female.”
The controller further said that NIS is working and collaborating with the Ghanaian government to stop human traffickers.
Adamu added that the operation was a testament to commitment of Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, in combating smuggling of migrants, human trafficking, and protection of vulnerable migrants.
Delegate from Ghana, Mr Kpeli Kofi, a Detective Chief Inspector, Interpol Unit noted that they rescued the trafficked Nigerians through collaborative efforts with anti-human trafficking unit of Ghana’s criminal investigation department.
Inspector, Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Ghana Police, Ms Mutilda Dellir said they had information that some people came from Nigeria to Ghana some months back.
She said, “So quickly, we had to interview them and ask them their reasons for coming to Ghana.”
“We realised somebody may have influenced their coming to Ghana because they said when you work in Ghana you have a lot of money so that is the reason they are coming to Ghana.”
“They also came with their children, a mother coming with about six children, some have one, some have two.”
“So, we realised that some traffickers brought them to Ghana but they did not tell us the truth.”
“Consequently, we have to plan and organise with the Nigeria Embassy in Ghana, and bring them back since this is not the first time Anti-human trafficking in Ghana and then NAPTIP in Nigeria are doing this.”
Deller added that the other eight ladies were picked up while prostituting at different locations in Ghana.
She noted that human trafficking had been an issue in Ghana and Nigeria, so, when we see these vulnerable ones, we try to interview them and ask them why they are there and what they are doing.
One of the trafficked Nigerians who is from Port-Harcourt, Uche John said she was lured to Ghana with promises of a better life but was instead forced into prostitution, adding that she is happy to be back in the country, having learnt her lessons in Ghana.
Before this, Seme Area Command of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had on July 4, rescued five victims of human trafficking in Côte d’Ivoire.
NIS Seme comptroller said Nigerian Immigration Attachés in Côte d’Ivoire, in collaboration with Nigerian community there and some other partners, worked tirelessly to identify and rescue the victims.
Also on July 20, Federal Government rescued an additional 58 Nigerian women and children trafficked to Ghana.
Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols for Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun noted that with the latest rescue, a total of 105 people had been rescued over the past few months.
