ABUJA — Forty-six Ghanaian nationals trafficked into Nigeria have been rescued following two separate operations coordinated by the Nigeria Police Force in partnership with INTERPOL. Seven suspects connected to the cross-border trafficking ring and cyber fraud syndicate have been arrested.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the development in a statement released on Thursday. He said the operations were spearheaded by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja and targeted organised crime groups involved in human trafficking and online scams.
The first operation, conducted with assistance from INTERPOL NCB Accra, uncovered 31 Ghanaians who had been lured into Nigeria with the false promise of jobs in Europe. Upon arrival, they were coerced into online fraud activities allegedly tied to the QNET network.
Police investigations revealed that one of the victims, Samuel Dankwah Opoku, was tricked in August 2024 by a recruiter named George Tenkron with the promise of work in Spain. Instead, he was diverted to Nigeria, where he was made to pay GHC 30,000 to a known QNET agent, Attah Amankwaah, a Ghanaian resident in Nigeria.
Acting on intelligence, officers raided their base of operations and arrested six suspects, including Amankwaah. Items recovered from the scene supported allegations of their involvement in trafficking and cyber fraud. Testimonies from the victims pointed to a wider criminal network operating across borders.
All 31 victims have since been transferred to the Ghana High Commission in Abuja for repatriation and reintegration under international procedures.
In a separate case, INTERPOL NCB Abuja received a tip-off on June 17, 2025, about four Ghanaian nationals believed to have been trafficked by 39-year-old Achiaa Grace Afrifa. She reportedly extorted GHC 126,000 from them under the guise of arranging jobs abroad.
Afrifa was arrested on June 18 at a residence on Ikot Ebido Street in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Police rescued 15 more victims from her custody.
All seven suspects from both operations remain in custody and face charges once investigations conclude.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, applauded the swift actions of INTERPOL, the Ghana High Commission, and officers involved in the operations. He restated the force’s resolve to disrupt trafficking syndicates, curb online fraud, and deepen cross-border law enforcement collaboration.
