By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Authorities have repatriated at least 16 Nigerians from Ghana for their alleged involvement in cyber-related criminal activities.
The returnees received by officials of Nigerian Immigration Service led by the Comptroller in charge of Seme border Command, Chukwuemeka Dike, were said to have been arrested by the Ghana immigration officials who raided their residence.
Dike said the 16 deportees who were harvested and brought back from Ghana have been accused by the Ghana Economic And Financial Crime of getting involved in cybercrime.
Dike noted that from preliminary investigation, “we have discovered that some of them were lured into such criminal activities but others went with the mind of “get rich quick” mentality that the youths are developing currently.
“Some of them are victims, in the sense that they were deceived in the process. Unfortunately, when they get there they are exposed to something different, and they don’t get the actual bargain they were given when leaving the shores of the country.
“Investigation also revealed that they left the country through illegal routes, through the sea, and went into some west African countries, most of them travelled without genuine travel documents.
“So when they got to Ghana they became prey to the authorities, it was easy for the authorities to deport them.
“The deportees were handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service based on the agency partnership and synergy with other embassies and high commissions all over West Africa community,” he added
He, however, encouraged Nigerians travelling out of the country to get genuine traveller documents as well as have legitimate sources of livelihood.