By Ebi Kesiena
Nine teenage Nigerian girls who were trafficked to Ghana have safely arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. This follows a coordinated effort led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, and representatives from the Imo State government, including Chyna Amara Iwuanyanwu (Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House) and Nkechinyere Ugwu, Imo State Commissioner for Women Affairs.
The girls, who landed around 9:55 PM, were immediately profiled and handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further care.
Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that the girls would receive rehabilitation and counseling through NAPTIP and be returned to their respective states. She also noted that the alleged trafficker has been arrested and charged in Ghana.
Dabiri-Erewa called for a stronger stance against human trafficking in Nigeria, stating, “We must declare war against human traffickers.” She urged parents to remain vigilant about their children’s whereabouts and to question the intentions of relatives or friends who take them away. She emphasized the importance of collective efforts to identify and apprehend traffickers.
She expressed gratitude to key figures who facilitated the rescue, including the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Adeoye Ifedayo, Eze Igbo Ghana Chukwudi Ihenetu, Chief Callistus, Chairman BOT, Ghana, and the NIDO Team. She also commended the Imo State Governor for promptly dispatching a high-powered delegation.
In a related development, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, President of the Ugwumba Leadership Center for Africa announced a full scholarship for Miss Divine Asuzu, one of the rescued girls from Amaokpara community in Nkwerre LGA, Imo State. Following discussions with her parents, Asuzu expressed a desire to continue her education.
Nwosu praised the swift actions of Governor Hope Uzodimma and the diaspora community for raising the alarm that led to the girls’ rescue. He reiterated the Ugwumba Leadership Center’s commitment to youth development, stating, “As an organization that promotes youth development in Africa, we hereby award her a full scholarship to study in any of the government universities in Nigeria. Meanwhile, before her admission, we have also approved a monthly upkeep allowance for her.”
Heritage Times HT notes that the rescue and subsequent support highlight the collaborative efforts between government officials, international bodies, and non-governmental organizations in combating human trafficking and supporting its victims.
