The Nigeria Police Force has rescued 46 victims of human trafficking and arrested seven suspects connected to a vast cross-border syndicate operating fraudulent online schemes under the cover of employment promises.
The breakthrough, announced by the NPF via its official channels, followed two major operations led by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, in collaboration with counterparts in Ghana and other agencies.
The first operation stemmed from a tip-off by INTERPOL Accra, revealing how 31 Ghanaian nationals were lured to Nigeria with false promises of European jobs. Once across the border, the victims were reportedly forced into online marketing scams affiliated with the controversial QNET network.
Investigations uncovered that one of the victims, Samuel Dankwah Opoku, paid 30,000 Ghanaian Cedis to a known QNET member, Attah Amankwaah, before being trafficked into Nigeria.
In a statement signed by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the force Public Relations Officer, six suspects were arrested during a raid on their operational base, where police also recovered incriminating materials.
The rescued victims have since been handed over to the Ghana High Commission in Abuja for repatriation and reintegration, with consular support ensured.
In a second operation on June 17, INTERPOL received a distress alert about four Ghanaians allegedly trafficked by 39-year-old Achiaa Grace Afrifa.
She was arrested a day later in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where police rescued 15 additional victims. Afrifa reportedly swindled her victims out of 126,000 Ghanaian Cedis under the guise of arranging foreign jobs.
All seven suspects from both operations are in custody, awaiting prosecution.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the swift action and international collaboration, affirming the NPF’s unwavering dedication to dismantling trafficking rings, upholding justice, and protecting vulnerable persons.
