Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has condemned human trafficking and called for decisive action to combat it after intervening in the rescue of ten Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana for prostitution. These girls, aged 15 to 18, were lured under the guise of becoming salesgirls.
The rescue operation was carried out by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Ghana, with cooperation from various stakeholders including the Imo State Government, the Eze Igbo of Ghana, and the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Adeoye Ifedayo. Eight of the girls are from Imo State, and two are from Plateau State.
During her visit, Dabiri-Erewa met with the rescued girls and praised the efforts of Chief Calistus Elozieuwa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NIDO in Ghana, and his team. She emphasized the need for a permanent solution to eradicate human trafficking in Nigeria, declaring, “We must declare a war against human traffickers.”
The rescued girls will be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for counseling and rehabilitation before being returned to their respective states. Ifedayo commended NIDO in Ghana for their swift action and stressed the importance of stopping human trafficking.
In response to the incident, Uju Kennedy, the Minister of Women Affairs, issued a directive prohibiting underage girls from lodging in hotels. The Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Amara Iwuanyanwu, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs of Imo State, Nkechinyere Ugwu, reiterated their commitment to the welfare of the rescued girls. The Plateau State Government also pledged full support for the girls’ rehabilitation.
The delegation also held discussions with senior members of the Ghanaian police, who assured their cooperation in the fight against human trafficking.
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