In a sweeping operation in Accra, Ghanaian authorities rescued 57 young Nigerians, aged 18 to 26, from a suspected human trafficking and cybercrime network.
The victims had been promised legitimate jobs but were instead forced to carry out online romance scams and extortion schemes. Five suspects have been arrested, and police seized a large collection of laptops, mobile phones, and other internet-enabled devices used in the operations.
Eric Mawuena Egbeta, reporting from Accra, explained that this marks the third major raid of its kind in Ghana this year. Previous crackdowns have even resulted in Ghanaians being extradited to the United States after involvement in scams worth more than $4 million.
“Many of these young people are lured with the promise of well-paying jobs in Ghana,” Egbeta said. “Once here, they are confined, underfed, and pressured to meet targets for online scams.”
Most of the rescued individuals are men, though previous incidents have involved women. Authorities are now providing psychological support and co-ordinating with the Nigerian High Commission to ensure their safe return home.
The arrests highlight a growing regional problem, with high youth unemployment and economic disparities making young people particularly vulnerable. Ghanaian authorities have vowed to continue monitoring and cracking down on human trafficking and cybercrime networks across the country.
–ChannelAfrica–
