Ghanaian authorities have successfully rescued 76 nationals from a sophisticated trafficking operation in Nigeria, where victims were deceived with fake promises of professional football careers and overseas employment opportunities.
The rescued individuals, predominantly young men, fell prey to fraudsters who offered lucrative football contracts with international teams, overseas job placements, and visa processing assistance. However, upon reaching Nigeria, the victims found themselves trapped in a nightmare scenario.
According to Ghana’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the traffickers immediately confiscated victims’ passports and mobile devices before confining them to severely overcrowded accommodations with deplorable living conditions.
The criminal enterprise then coerced victims into contacting their families back home, demanding approximately $1,000 under the pretense of covering training fees or processing costs. The perpetrators escalated their fraud by exploiting victims’ phone contacts to target friends and relatives with similar scams.
CID Director Lydia Yaako Donkor announced during a press conference that the multi-state rescue mission, spanning from May 19 to June 27 this year, was executed through coordinated efforts between Ghanaian police, Interpol, and Nigerian law enforcement agencies. Seven Ghanaian nationals have been detained in connection with the trafficking network.
The victims remain in Nigeria awaiting repatriation to reunite with their families in Ghana.
Donkor revealed the disturbing mechanics of the operation, explaining that once ensnared, victims were transported overland to unfamiliar territories and detained in what she termed “holding camps”: rented facilities where up to 40 people were crammed into substandard quarters. Under intense pressure, victims were then forced to recruit additional targets, often manipulating their family members and friends.
“The psychological and economic devastation inflicted on these victims and their families is profound,” Donkor emphasized, noting that many survivors are “severely malnourished and psychologically traumatized” to the extent that resuming normal life becomes challenging.
The investigation has revealed connections to QNET, an international lifestyle and wellness marketing corporation that Ghana banned in 2022 for allegedly operating a Ponzi scheme. The company continues to deny any involvement in fraudulent activities.
Such schemes targeting individuals with false employment promises leading to internet fraud operations are unfortunately common across Ghana and Nigeria. Authorities stress that efforts to apprehend all individuals involved in the trafficking ring remain active.
Donkor urged families to thoroughly investigate and verify any attractive job offers or educational opportunities abroad before proceeding, particularly those requiring overland travel to unfamiliar countries.
