The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has received 13 victims of human trafficking—12 young women and a five-year-old boy—rescued from Ghana and Mali.
In a statement on Sunday, NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, confirmed that the victims were received by the Commission’s Chairman, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in Abuja.
According to the statement, the victims recounted harrowing experiences of being lured under false pretenses of job opportunities and subsequently forced into prostitution. They detailed how they were subjected to sexual exploitation, physical abuse, and psychological trauma in both countries.
Dabiri-Erewa, while receiving the victims, condemned the traffickers’ actions and pledged the Commission’s support in facilitating the victims’ reintegration.
“We will ensure they are safely reunited with their families and supported through rehabilitation in collaboration with their respective state governments,” she said.
The NiDCOM chief also called for stricter action against human traffickers, urging security agencies and the judiciary to pursue aggressive prosecution and public naming of offenders to serve as a deterrent.
The rescued victims have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for proper profiling, documentation, and rehabilitation processes.
This latest rescue highlights the growing urgency of coordinated efforts between Nigerian authorities and international partners to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable citizens abroad.
