A recent operation conducted by the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with INTERPOL has led to the rescue of 46 Ghanaians who were trafficked into Nigeria under the guise of securing employment opportunities in Europe, only to be exploited in online fraud activities linked to the QNET network.
According to reports, the victims were lured with false promises of jobs in Europe, but upon arrival in Nigeria, they were coerced into participating in fraudulent online marketing schemes. One victim, Samuel Dankwah Opoku, was promised a job in Spain but was instead trafficked to Nigeria, where he was forced to pay GHC 30,000 to a QNET agent.
The operation, carried out by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, resulted in the arrest of seven suspects connected to the trafficking ring and cyber fraud syndicate. The rescued victims have been handed over to the Ghana High Commission in Abuja for repatriation and reintegration.
In a separate operation, four more Ghanaians were rescued after being trafficked by a 39-year-old woman, Achiaa Grace Afrifa, who collected GHC 126,000 from them under the guise of arranging jobs abroad. Afrifa was arrested, and 15 victims were rescued from her custody.
The Nigeria Police Force has stated that all seven suspects are currently in custody and will face prosecution once investigations are concluded ¹ ².
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of human trafficking in West Africa, with many victims being lured by false promises of employment opportunities abroad. The Ghanaian government and international partners are working to combat this issue and provide support to victims ³.