More than 10 Nigerian teenage girls trafficked to Ghana for prostitution rescued

By Enyichukwu Enemanna

At least ten Nigerian teenage girls who were allegedly lured into prostitution in neighboring Ghana have been rescued, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has announced.

The girls under 18 were rescued by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO), an association which brings together Nigerians living in Ghana, said the head of NIDCOM.

A viral video of the teens following their rescue has since been released.

They were attracted by a man whose identity has not been revealed. A NIDO official said: “We have just rescued all these children from one person, innocent Nigerian children who were brought here to do what they did not wish to do.

“They are powerless. They selected them and sent them into prostitution and they collected money from these innocent children.

The NIDCOM chief, in a post on

“These are young girls being trafficked to Ghana for prostitution,” she cited a viral video showing the girls. “We thank Chief Callistus, Chairman of NIDO Ghana, for ensuring the arrest of the perpetrator. I'm sure NAPTIP will follow up, it's very heartbreaking.

In a follow-up message, Dabiri-Erewa said another group of girls had been rescued. “The culprit will be brought to justice in Ghana next week and arrangements will be made to bring the rescued girls back to Nigeria,” she wrote, insisting that the traffickers must be named and shamed.

Heritage Times HT reports that hundreds of Nigerian girls trying to flee hunger and insecurity are easily lured by traffickers posing as foreign employment agents.

The “japa” syndrome, in which young people are leaving the oil-rich African country in droves, has seen several hundred people attempt to reach Europe via irregular routes.

They are transported by road from Lagos, through the desert, to Libya, with the promise of a decent livelihood.

Despite the risks associated with such movements, more and more people are trying to leave the country in search of greener pastures.