In a significant joint operation, 76 Ghanaians were rescued from a human trafficking ring that lured them to Nigeria with false promises of football careers.
Dozens of Young Ghanaians Rescued from Football Scam in Nigeria
Dozens of Young Ghanaians Rescued from Football Scam in Nigeria
Over 70 victims trapped in fraudulent football job scheme returned home under police protection.
Ghana's police reported that victims, primarily young men, were misguidedly promised football contracts and job placements abroad. Upon arriving in Nigeria, their travel documents and phones were confiscated, leaving them in dire living conditions. They were compelled to solicit funds from their families under the pretense of paying for training and facilitation fees. The perpetrators also manipulated the victims' contacts to further deceive relatives and friends.
The Ghanaian authorities, in collaboration with Interpol and Nigerian law enforcement, managed to rescue the individuals from various locations within Nigeria between late May and late June. Seven Ghanaians have been taken into custody for their involvement in this organized crime.
Lydia Yaako Donkor, head of Ghana's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), emphasized the need for vigilance among families regarding overseas job opportunities, urging them to verify such offers rigorously. The victims were often misled into traveling over land to unfamiliar locations, where they were then held in "holding camps," often housing around 40 individuals under appalling conditions.
The psychological and physical toll on those rescued was severe, with many suffering from malnutrition and emotional distress due to the ordeal. The CID cautioned that the situation necessitates ongoing law enforcement efforts to apprehend all those complicit in the trafficking network.
Compounding the issue is QNET, a marketing company with a controversial reputation, which has been banned from operating in Ghana due to previous allegations of being involved in fraudulent activities. Despite their denials, incidents like these are indicative of a larger problem where false job offers are prevalent in West Africa, leading to various forms of exploitation and scams.
Authorities continue their investigation into this alarming human trafficking case, pledging to protect the victims and bring the fraudsters to justice.
