Ghanaian authorities have successfully rescued 76 citizens trafficked to Nigeria under false promises of jobs, football contracts, and visa assistance. Most victims were young men who found themselves trapped in harsh conditions after their arrival.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Ghana, led by Lydia Yaako Donkor, conducted the rescue between May 19 and June 27 in coordination with Interpol and Nigerian law enforcement agencies. The victims were recovered from several locations in Nigeria but have not yet been repatriated.
Upon arrival, traffickers confiscated the victims’ phones and travel documents. They were housed in overcrowded, poor living conditions and coerced into contacting family and friends to collect approximately $1,000 each under the pretense of training and facilitation fees. The traffickers exploited victims’ phone contact lists to defraud their relatives.
Donkor highlighted the severe psychological and economic impact on the victims and their families, noting many were malnourished and mentally distressed. Victims were often forced to recruit others to the scheme, trapping more people in the cycle.
Authorities have arrested seven Ghanaian nationals linked to the trafficking ring, which appears connected to QNET, a controversial marketing company banned in Ghana since 2022 for fraud allegations. The company denies involvement.
Ghanaian officials urge the public to carefully verify job and travel offers as such scams become increasingly common in West Africa.
