One hundred and five Nigerians rescued during an operation against cybercrime syndicates in Ghana have returned home, with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) assuring them of safety and support.
The returnees were received by NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Lami Adamu Bello, on behalf of the Federal Government, as authorities prepare to profile them and begin the process of reintegration.
According to a statement signed by Head of Press and Public Relations Unit NAPTIP Vincent Adekoye, the operation was coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) following contact from Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority.
The Ghanaian government reportedly rescued 119 Nigerians during the operation, with 105 repatriated to Nigeria, while arrangements are ongoing for the remaining 14.
NAPTIP led the Nigerian security and law enforcement agencies involved in the operation, working with the Nigeria Immigration Service, Department of State Services, National Intelligence Agency, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, and the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, among other partners.
Welcoming the returnees, the NAPTIP DG Binta Adamu Bello urged them to remain calm as the government undertakes profiling and reintegration processes to establish their individual circumstances and determine the assistance they require.
She said the process would help ensure that the returnees receive appropriate protection and support, while safeguarding their dignity and welfare.
NAPTIP commended the Ghanaian authorities, particularly the Cyber Security Authority and Ghana Immigration Service, as well as the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, for their operational support.
The agency also acknowledged the Office of the National Security Adviser, Nigerian security and law enforcement agencies, and other partners whose collaboration facilitated the operation.
Consequently, the agency reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening international cooperation against human trafficking and related forms of exploitation.
NAPTIP also urged Nigerians to exercise caution when considering employment, scholarships and other opportunities abroad, particularly offers involving unrealistic promises, vague job descriptions or suspicious recruitment arrangements.