• Plans to reunite victims with families
• NiDCOM boss calls for war against human trafficking
The Nigerian High Commission in Ghana has said that the 11 teenage girls trafficked to the country for prostitution had been taken into custody.
The Commission, which disclosed that the victims would be reunited with their families in Nigeria, said that the suspect, Chukwudi Nwachukwu, who lured the girls to Ghana under the pretence of securing their employment in a restaurant, had been arrested.
In a memo sighted by The Guardian, which was signed by the Acting High Commissioner, Nigeria High Commission, Accra, Ghana, Ambassador Adeoye Ifedayo, the 11 victims from Imo and Plateau were identified as Simi-Joy Ayuba, 16; Mary Noro Ezekiel, Salina Danjuma, 18; Gift Onyinyechi Odurukwe, 15; Divine Chimezie Asouzu, 15; Confidence Chimaka, 18; Miracle Oluebube, 17; Lovelyn Amarachuku, 17; Happiness Odurukwe, 16; Simi John, 16 and Miracle Okoye, 15.
Adeoye said: “We have the honour to report that the Nigerian High Commission, Accra, has taken custody of the 11 trafficked Nigerian girls who were rescued on Thursday, June 6, at Wiennbba, Central Region, Ghana.
“The victims were rescued by officials of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in Ghana, led by its President, Olayemi Akinwande. The victims, aged between 14 and 18 years, are at present being kept by the High Commission at 15, Circular Road, Cantonment, Accra.
Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned in strong terms modern-day slavery (human trafficking). She stated this when she visited Ghana to address the rescue of Nigerian girls trafficked to that country, as she commended the Chairman BOT of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, Ghana, Calistus Elozieuwa, and his team.
Also present in Ghana were the representatives of the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodima, represented by the Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Amara Iwuanyanwu, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs of Imo State, Mrs. Nkechinyere Ugwu.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa emphasised the need for a permanent solution to eradicate human trafficking in Nigeria, adding, “We must declare a war against human traffickers”.
She urged parents to always question the whereabouts of their children when taken away by relatives or friends and encouraged collective efforts to ensure traffickers are named and arrested.
