Ghana saves 119 Nigerians from cybercrime groups

Ghanaian officials have rescued 119 Nigerians in a crackdown on cybercrime groups. Out of these, 105 have been sent back to Nigeria.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons shared this news in a statement on Monday. They mentioned that the remaining 14 Nigerians are still being processed by the Ghanaian authorities.

The operation was led by the Office of the National Security Adviser after a request from Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority.

NAPTIP coordinated with Nigerian security and law enforcement agencies for this operation. This included the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency, and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.

Other groups that took part were the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, along with other partners.

Receiving the returnees for the Federal Government, NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Lami Adamu Bello, welcomed them and promised their safety. She encouraged the returnees to stay calm as the government began profiling and reintegrating them to understand their individual needs.

The agency said this exercise shows its dedication to protecting the dignity and welfare of the returnees. They plan to ensure each person gets the right assistance.

NAPTIP praised the Ghanaian authorities, especially the Cyber Security Authority of Ghana and the Ghana Immigration Service, along with the UK’s National Crime Agency, for their help during the operation.

The agency also thanked the Office of the National Security Adviser, Nigerian security and law enforcement agencies, and other partners for working together to make the operation a success.

Reaffirming its goal to fight human trafficking and related exploitation, NAPTIP promised to make sure individuals identified during such operations receive proper screening, protection, and support based on their situations.

The agency advised Nigerians to be careful when looking for jobs, scholarships, and other opportunities abroad. They should watch out for offers that seem too good to be true, unclear job descriptions, or suspicious recruitment processes.