The authorities in Ghana say they have repatriated 21 human trafficking victims, including children, to Nigeria after being rescued from an alleged gang in the capital, Accra. According to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) who are responsible for the action, the victims, aged between 15 and 20, were sent home on Tuesday with the help of Nigerian authorities. At a press conference, the Deputy Executive Director in charge of Operations at EOCO, Nana Antwi, revealed that victims were rescued last month during a swoop to arrest some people allegedly involved in cybercrime. However, after investigations, it was established that they were rather victims of human trafficking going on in the country, hence the decision by EOCO to return them back to their country.
Antwi disclosed that the raid was organised on September 26 through an intelligence-led operation at a location in Accra.
The victims and seven suspects, he said, were picked up in a house where all the Nigerians had been housed by the suspected human traffickers and were being trained in Internet cyber fraud.He added that the seven suspects are currently facing charges relating to engaging in organised crime, human trafficking, and assault.
Giving account of the development Antwi said: “On that day, 28 people were arrested. We had the firm conviction that the arrest covered both the victims and the organisers of the trafficking.
Subsequent investigative processes revealed that, in actual fact, of the number, 28 young males whose ages were not above 20 years were trafficked from Nigeria and brought to Ghana, housed, given computers and other accessories and were being trained on how to conduct criminal activity with the gadgets.”
“As a result of the sorting and critical analysis, we found it prudent to separate the victims from the suspects,” he added.
Antwi applauded the security agencies whose support led to the successful operation and subsequent deportation of the victims.
“In fact, an hour from now, they will start the journey towards their home country, Nigeria. There has been close collaboration with the Nigerian anti-human trafficking authorities and other relevant agencies.
“The Ghana Immigration Service too is in this exercise and all local related agencies are also involved, just as our police counterparts who gave us a very good backing during the September 26 operation,” he said.
