231 Nigerians were brought back home from Ghana after a major security operation targeted a suspected human trafficking and cybercrime ring.
The returnees were received by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at their Lagos office.
The group included 27 people believed to be traffickers and several others who had been held against their will.
The operation, which led to the repatriation, was carried out by Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and supported by local security and police forces.
It followed a report about illegal activities happening inside a gated estate in Ghana. Security officers launched a raid on the estate after receiving a tip on March 28.
The estate had 26 houses, and the raid began early in the morning.
During the raid, 233 people were taken into custody.
Most of them were young Nigerian men, many of whom were reportedly promised good jobs in Ghana but ended up trapped and used for internet fraud.
Four women were among those rescued, believed to be victims of trafficking.
Some of the victims said they had been in captivity for years, while others had only recently arrived before being caught in the syndicate’s web.
After being freed, the victims were handed over to NAPTIP and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), who will now provide care and begin reintegration processes.
Investigations are expected to continue as authorities look into the operations of the syndicate and the roles played by the suspected traffickers.
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