NiDCOM receives 13 rescued human trafficking victims from Ghana, Mali

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has announced the return of 13 Nigerian victims of human trafficking—12 girls and a five-year-old boy—who were recently rescued from sexual exploitation in Ghana and Mali.

The development was disclosed in an official statement issued by the Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, and posted on the commission’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday.

According to Balogun, the victims—all hailing from Adamawa State—were received by NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

He stated that the young girls were deceived by traffickers who lured them with false promises of job opportunities in Ghana and Mali, only to force them into prostitution upon arrival.

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“The victims narrated harrowing experiences of sexual abuse, physical violence, and emotional trauma inflicted upon them by their traffickers in both countries,” the statement read.

The victims rescued from Ghana were formally received on behalf of Dabiri-Erewa by Mr. Dipo Odebowale, Head of the NiDCOM Lagos Liaison Office. Similarly, those repatriated from Mali were received in Lagos by Mr. Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

Dabiri-Erewa assured the rescued individuals of continued support from NiDCOM, including logistics and reunification with their families. She also disclosed that the Commission is collaborating with the respective state authorities to facilitate the victims’ rehabilitation and reintegration.

The NiDCOM boss further reiterated the urgent need for stringent actions against human traffickers, calling for a nationwide crackdown.

“There must be naming, shaming, and prosecution of the traffickers to bring an end to this modern-day slavery,” she emphasized.

Following their reception, the victims were transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for proper profiling and documentation as part of ongoing efforts to ensure their safety and recovery.