The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has taken custody of 105 Nigerians repatriated from Ghana following a joint operation targeting cybercrime syndicates.
The operation was coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in response to a request for assistance from Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority, in line with efforts to protect Nigerian citizens and promote their welfare.
NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.
The agency led the Nigerian contingent, which included the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), alongside other partners.
According to the Ghanaian government, 119 Nigerians were rescued during the operation. Of this number, 105 have returned to Nigeria, while efforts are underway to facilitate the return of the remaining 14.
Receiving the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government, NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, welcomed them and assured them of the government’s commitment to their safety and welfare.
She urged them to remain calm while officials conduct profiling and reintegration assessments to establish their individual circumstances and determine the support required.
NAPTIP said the process was intended to protect the dignity of the returnees and ensure that assistance was provided according to their specific needs.
The agency acknowledged the contributions of Ghanaian authorities, particularly the Cyber Security Authority and Ghana Immigration Service, as well as the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), to the operation.
It also commended ONSA, Nigerian security and law enforcement agencies, and other partners for their cooperation in facilitating the rescue and repatriation exercise.
NAPTIP reaffirmed its resolve to deepen domestic and international partnerships to combat human trafficking and other forms of exploitation, adding that people identified during such operations would receive appropriate screening, protection and assistance.
The agency advised Nigerians to exercise caution when considering employment, scholarship and other opportunities abroad, warning them to be wary of offers featuring unrealistic promises, unclear job descriptions or suspicious recruitment arrangements.
