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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned the practice of human trafficking after intervening to rescue 10 Nigerian girls who were trafficked to Ghana under the guise of being “sales girls” but were forced into prostitution.
The news of the girls’ situation went viral after being intercepted by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Ghana, which promptly alerted NiDCOM, leading to the swift intervention.
Dabiri-Erewa visited Ghana to address the rescue of the girls, commending the Chairman BOT of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Ghana, Calistus Elozieuwa, and his team for their efforts.
She was accompanied by representatives from the Imo State Government, including the Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Amara Iwuanyanwu, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Nkechinyere Ugwu.
During her visit, Dabiri-Erewa emphasized the need for a permanent solution to eradicate human trafficking in Nigeria.
“We must declare a war against human traffickers,” she stated, urging parents to always question the whereabouts of their children when taken away by relatives or friends. She encouraged collective efforts to ensure traffickers are named and arrested.
According to a statement issued by Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM, Gabriel Odu, the Commission’s boss further mentioned that the rescued girls would be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), who will then hand them over to their respective states for counseling and rehabilitation.
The Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Adeoye Ifedayo, commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) in Ghana and stressed the need to put a stop to human trafficking.
The delegation also met with the high echelon of the Ghanaian Police, who pledged total cooperation in the war against human trafficking.
The representative of the Imo State Governor, Iwuanyanwu, reiterated the government’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of the rescued girls. Similarly, the Plateau State Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, pledged to cater to the welfare and full rehabilitation of the stranded girls.
