From False Promises to Freedom: 3 Nigerian Teenagers Rescued from Trafficking Network in Ghana

 

What began as a hopeful journey for three Nigerian teenagers turned into a harrowing ordeal that has once again spotlighted the persistent threat of human trafficking across West Africa. This week, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) confirmed the successful rescue and return of three young women — Divine, Favour, and Bright — who had been lured to Ghana under false pretenses and subsequently forced into s3xual exploitation.

The girls, aged between 17 and 19, hail from Bayelsa and Ebonyi states. According to a statement issued by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NiDCOM, the teenagers were deceived by individuals they referred to as their “aunties,” who promised them promising job opportunities abroad.

What awaited them instead was a brutal trap: a trafficking network operating in Ghana that subjected them to forced s3x work. Their rescue, coordinated with the help of stakeholders including the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana and the Nigerian Diaspora Organization (NIDO) Ghana, marks another painful but vital success in the fight against human trafficking.

The girls were officially welcomed back to Nigeria on Thursday at NiDCOM’s Lagos office. There, they were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which will provide them with psychological support, profiling, and reintegration services. The girls’ journey ahead will be long, but the hope is that their return marks the beginning of a new chapter — one of healing and justice.

Chairman and CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in her remarks, emphasized that this incident should galvanize both the government and local communities into deeper action.

“Human trafficking will persist if traffickers and their agents are not exposed and shamed,” Dabiri-Erewa stated. “It’s a global issue, and until we stop covering up for those responsible, it won’t end.”

She further stressed the importance of community-level vigilance and transparency in exposing perpetrators, many of whom operate within familiar and trusted circles. The story of Divine, Favour, and Bright underscores how traffickers exploit trust — often presenting themselves as friends, relatives, or mentors — to manipulate and exploit their victims.

Dabiri-Erewa also extended heartfelt appreciation to Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, Chairman of the NIDO Ghana Board of Trustees, for his consistent role in aiding the rescue and protection of vulnerable Nigerians abroad. The Nigerian Embassy in Ghana was likewise praised for its continued support and active participation in the mission that led to the girls’ freedom.

Special recognition was also given to Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, for her involvement in facilitating the safe transport of the young women back home — a gesture that highlights the importance of high-level advocacy and intervention in matters of human trafficking.

According to NiDCOM, this is not an isolated case. Over 169 Nigerians have been rescued and repatriated from Ghana in recent months, victims of similar deceptive schemes promising better lives but delivering trauma and exploitation instead.

This growing trend is a reminder of how complex and dangerous trafficking networks have become, often spanning borders and involving multiple layers of deception. It also highlights the urgent need for continuous education, grassroots sensitization, and international collaboration to combat these criminal enterprises.

As the rescued girls begin their recovery journey, their story serves as both a warning and a call to action: the fight against human trafficking is far from over. But with every life saved and every trafficker unmasked, Nigeria moves one step closer to breaking the cycle.