Air Peace Flies Hope Home: 78 Trafficked Nigerian Girls Brought Back from Côte d’Ivoire at No Cost

 

Homecoming of Hope: 78 Trafficked Nigerian Girls Return from Côte d’Ivoire

Seventy-eight Nigerian girls and young women, many of them victims of trafficking to Côte d’Ivoire, touched down safely at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the early hours of Sunday. Their arrival was met with relief, emotion, and a resounding national commitment to dismantling human trafficking networks preying on vulnerable citizens.

Led by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the operation marks a milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against transnational trafficking syndicates. The returnees, some reportedly as young as 13 and visibly traumatized, were received by top officials of the agency, health professionals, and human rights advocates.

At the airport, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dr. Binta Bello, addressed the media and support teams, referring to the girls as the “rescued daughters of the nation.” Her tone carried both the weight of sorrow and the spark of resilience. “This rescue is not only a return home—it is a declaration of national responsibility and an unyielding stand against trafficking crimes,” she said.

Bello acknowledged the complex and dangerous nature of the operation, revealing that arrests have been made in connection to the trafficking ring. Though operational details remain under wraps for security reasons, she assured that efforts are intensifying in collaboration with international agencies to break the chains of trafficking and prosecute perpetrators.

The rescue mission came together through a multi-sector alliance involving the Nigerian government, global partners, civil society groups, and notably, Air Peace Airlines. The private airline offered its services free of charge, a gesture that brought both logistical relief and emotional weight to the humanitarian cause.

Dr. Bello lauded this spirit of cooperation and emphasized that beyond the rescue lies a path to healing. All returnees will undergo medical screening, psychological support, and participate in reintegration programs designed to restore their dignity and give them a new lease on life.

Standing on the tarmac beside the returning girls, Allen Onyema, Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, made a passionate appeal for national unity and moral action. “We didn’t do this for money. We did it because it’s the right thing. These girls were abandoned, abused, and betrayed. As a nation, we have to be better than this,” Onyema said.

He disclosed that the mission incurred a financial hit of roughly ₦400 million due to rerouted flights and delays, but quickly dismissed the figure as insignificant when weighed against the value of human life. “Money is replaceable. Lives are not,” he added firmly.

Onyema confirmed that all 78 girls have been enrolled at Duchess International Hospital for comprehensive medical evaluation. Testing will include screenings for HIV, pregnancy, and other conditions stemming from their exploitation. Air Peace, through its corporate social responsibility program, has committed to covering all associated costs for medical care and post-trauma rehabilitation.

This operation represents only the first phase of a larger mission. Over 150 Nigerian girls have reportedly been trapped in similar circumstances across Côte d’Ivoire, lured under the pretense of job opportunities but ending up in forced labor or sexual exploitation. Onyema pledged that Air Peace will continue to support their return, regardless of the logistical toll.

The arrival was a deeply emotional scene. Some girls clung to each other, sobbing quietly, while others expressed gratitude with shy smiles or tearful prayers. Immigration officials, social workers, and medical staff stood by to assist, creating a scene both solemn and hopeful.

Despite the emotional and physical scars the victims carry, Sunday’s event cast a rare light on collective action triumphing over systemic abuse. Dr. Bello urged Nigerians to remain alert and report suspicious movements, stressing that human trafficking often hides in plain sight under the guise of economic opportunity.

“Nigeria must be a place where no one is bought, sold, or forgotten,” she said. Her words echoed across the terminal—a reminder that the fight is far from over, but far from futile.

As the nation reflects on this powerful act of rescue and responsibility, the girls’ return serves as a poignant symbol of hope, healing, and the enduring power of collective humanity.