A total of 46 Ghanaian nationals trafficked into Nigeria have been rescued in Abuja following a coordinated operation by the National Central Bureau (NCB) of INTERPOL, in collaboration with the Ghana High Commission and INTERPOL headquarters.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the rescue efforts led to the arrest of seven suspects connected to both human trafficking and cybercrime activities.
During the first phase of the operation, 31 victims were discovered to have been deceived with false promises of employment opportunities in Europe.
Upon arrival in Nigeria, they were coerced into participating in fraudulent online marketing schemes linked to the QNET network.
One of the victims, Samuel Dankwah Opoku, recounted how he was tricked by a man named George Tenkron and swindled out of GHC 30,000 by another Ghanaian, Attah Amankwaah, a known QNET affiliate based in Nigeria. Opoku believed he was en route to a legitimate job in Spain.
“Preliminary investigations indicate the syndicate entices victims with fake overseas job offers, only to force them into cyber fraud operations under duress,” ACP Adejobi stated.
Six individuals, including Amankwaah, were apprehended in a raid on their hideout, where authorities also recovered substantial evidence of their illicit activities.
All rescued victims have been transferred to the Ghana High Commission in Abuja for repatriation and rehabilitation.
In a separate incident reported on June 17, four additional Ghanaians were found to have been trafficked into Nigeria by 39-year-old Achiaa Grace Afrifa, who allegedly extorted GHC 126,000 from them under the pretense of overseas job placements. Afrifa was arrested the next day in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, and another 15 victims were freed from her custody.
All seven suspects remain in police custody and will face prosecution.
Commending the operation, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun lauded the swift action by INTERPOL and the strong cooperation with Ghanaian authorities. He reiterated the Force’s commitment to dismantling trafficking networks and safeguarding vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
Advertisement
