Following the arrest of a girl-trafficking suspect who is now in security custody, the Chairperson, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has assured Nigerians that 10 recently trafficked girls are now in safe hands.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, who announced the victims as eight from Imo and two from Plateau, thanked Chief Callistus, Ghana BOT Chairman, the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), and the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana , for the safe rescue of the trafficked girls.
She expressed concern that while these girls were being rescued, more are probably still being trafficked, and stressed that traffickers needed to be arrested, named and punished.
According to her, the girls are expected to return to Nigeria next week and will be handed over to NAPTIP, the agency in charge of trafficking in persons.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa added that forms filled by the girls indicated that they were being sent to Ghana to work as “ sales girls “.
The NIDCOM Chairperson had earlier said more than 10 Nigerian teenage girls, allegedly trafficked to Ghana for prostitution, have been rescued.
The girls, all under the age of 18, were reportedly lured from Nigeria to Ghana by a nameless man who has now been arrested by the police in a neighbouring West African country.
According to the NIDCOM boss, the girls were rescued by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, an umbrella association for Nigerians living in Ghana.
In a viral video which showed the girls after they were rescued, a NIDO official was heard saying, “We just rescued all these ones from one single person, innocent Nigerian children that were brought here to do what they wouldn’t have wished to do.
“They are helpless. They picked them and send them to do prostitution and they would be collecting money from these innocent children.”
“We thank Chief Callistus, Chairman, Nido Ghana for ensuring the arrest of the evil perpetrator. I am sure @naptipnigeria will follow up,” the NIDCOM boss said.
“The culprit will be charged to court in Ghana next week and arrangements being made to bring the rescued girls back to Nigeria,” she promised.
FRCN
