Ghanaian authorities have announced the rescue of 76 nationals who were trafficked to Nigeria under a fraudulent recruitment operation.
The victims, mainly young men, had been deceived with promises of football contracts, international job placements, or visa support, only to find themselves trapped in exploitative conditions.
According to police accounts, the victims were stripped of their travel documents and phones upon arrival in Nigeria and forced to live in overcrowded, unsanitary accommodations.
Under duress, they were compelled to contact relatives and demand about $1,000 in purported training or facilitation fees. In some instances, the perpetrators exploited the victims’ contacts to extend the scam to friends and family.
The rescue mission, executed between 19 May and 27 June, was the result of a joint operation involving Ghana’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Interpol, and Nigerian law enforcement agencies. Seven Ghanaian suspects have been arrested in connection with the case.
Speaking at a press conference, CID Director COP Lydia Yaako Donkor highlighted the severe psychological and economic toll the scam has taken on the victims and their families.
She revealed that those trafficked were often coerced into further recruitment schemes after being placed in so-called “holding camps,” where up to 40 individuals lived in dire conditions.
A company allegedly tied to the scam, QNET, has been banned in Ghana since 2022 for operating what authorities describe as a Ponzi scheme. QNET has denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, efforts to apprehend others involved in the trafficking ring continue.
