No fewer than 46 Ghanaian nationals trafficked into Nigeria have been rescued by security operatives in Abuja.
It was gathered that seven suspects linked to cross-border human trafficking and cyber fraud networks were also arrested during the operation.
In a statement on Thursday, by Spokesman for Nigeria Police Force, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that the rescue followed two operations coordinated by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Abuja, targeting transnational organised crimes.
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Adejobi noted that one of the operations, carried out in collaboration with INTERPOL NCB Accra, led to the rescue of 31 victims trafficked from Ghana to Nigeria under the guise of securing employment opportunities in Europe.
He reveal that the victims were later forced into fraudulent internet marketing activities linked to one QNET network.
Adejobi said: “Nigeria Police Force, through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, has once again recorded a significant breakthrough in the fight against transnational organised crimes such as human trafficking and transnational cybercrime, following two major operations that led to the rescue of forty-six (46) trafficked victims and the arrest of seven (7) suspects involved in cross-border criminal activities.
“In a coordinated operation based on a message received from INTERPOL NCB Accra, operatives of INTERPOL NCB have successfully rescued thirty-one (31) victims who had been trafficked from Ghana to Nigeria under the false pretense of securing employment opportunities in Europe.
“The victims, lured by deceptive promises, were later coerced into fraudulent internet marketing activities linked to the QNET network.
“Preliminary Investigations revealed that in August 2024, one Samuel Dankwah Opoku, a Ghanaian national, was deceived by one George Tenkron, who falsely assured him of employment in Spain.
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“Opoku was directed to travel to Nigeria, where he became ensnared in QNET’s fraudulent schemes. It was further uncovered that the victim had paid Thirty Thousand Ghanaian Cedis (GHC 30,000) to one Attah Amankwaah, a Ghanaian residing in Nigeria and a known member of the QNET network.
“This syndicate specializes in manipulating and confining individuals into exploitative online marketing scams under duress and false obligations.
“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force apprehended six (6) suspects, including Attah Amankwaah, and uncovered incriminating materials during a raid at their operational base.
“Detailed statements obtained from both victims and suspects led to the exposure of a wider transnational human trafficking and internet fraud network.
“The rescued victims were subsequently handed over to the Ghana High Commission in Abuja for safe repatriation and reintegration, with the assurance of continued consular and welfare support in line with international best practices.”
