Ghanaian authorities have arrested 93 Nigerians over alleged involvement in cybercrime and human trafficking activities in Accra, while rescuing 73 other Nigerians who were reportedly subjected to torture and abuse.
A report by ABC News GH on Tuesday, citing the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), revealed that 91 men and two women were among those arrested and are facing charges related to cybercrime and immigration violations. The 73 rescued victims have since been repatriated to Nigeria.
The arrests followed coordinated operations carried out in six houses at the DEVTRACO Estate, where officials targeted a network suspected of engaging in internet fraud and unlawful detention of individuals.
Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, Newman Akuffo, who led the operation under the GIS National Operations Unit, said officers recovered several items during the raid, including 82 laptops, 57 mobile phones, 17 television sets, counterfeit US dollars and fake gold bars believed to have been used in fraudulent activities.
Akuffo said the operation demonstrated the agency’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks exploiting communities.
Preliminary investigations showed that some of the suspects entered Ghana through unauthorised border routes, while others overstayed the 90-day visa-free entry granted to Nigerian nationals.
The Comptroller-General of the GIS warned that offenders risk prosecution under Ghana’s Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), which criminalises the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of individuals for exploitation through force, fraud or abuse. Convicted offenders may face between five and 20 years in prison, while cases involving children or other aggravating factors could attract life imprisonment.
Authorities also noted that violations of Ghana’s immigration laws, including illegal entry or overstaying visas, could result in fines or jail terms ranging from three months to two years.
Officials described the operation as one of the largest anti-fraud and anti-human trafficking interventions in recent years, highlighting Ghana’s intensified efforts to dismantle cybercrime networks operating in residential areas.
The development comes amid growing scrutiny of Nigerians abroad following mass arrests in other countries. Earlier in the week, 42 Nigerians were reportedly detained at a spare parts market in Mozambique, a move the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission described as a possible xenophobic attack.
Chairman of the commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the arrests in Mozambique as disturbing, noting that no offences had reportedly been established against the affected Nigerians.