Ghana has repatriated 120 Nigerian nationals following a major security operation targeting suspected cybercrime centres in the Greater Accra Region, where authorities believe people were trafficked and exploited for online fraud.
Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, announced the development on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. He thanked the Ghana Air Force and the Ministry of Defence for facilitating the Nigerians’ return home.
The operation, known as Operation Cyberhunt, also referred to as Operation Blackout, was coordinated by Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority (CSA), working alongside domestic security agencies and international partners, including the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the authorities, the operation led to the rescue of 120 people suspected of being trafficked and forced to participate in online criminal activities. Eight suspects were also arrested and are being processed for prosecution.
SECURITY RAIDS UNCOVER SUSPECTED FRAUD CENTRES
The operation followed intelligence received on 26 August 2026 concerning suspected organised cybercrime activities at residential properties in parts of Greater Accra.
The locations included Ubuntu Haven Estate in Kpone Katamanso, Franko Estate in Ga North and other areas in Ga West. Investigators suspected that some of the properties were being used as bases for online fraud, including romance scams.
During the raids, security personnel seized 136 mobile phones, 130 laptops, internet connectivity devices, four vehicles and other digital equipment. One of the vehicles was reportedly stolen from Canada.
Investigators also recovered jewellery and ten Nigerian passports as part of the operation.
Authorities have not publicly identified the eight suspects being processed for prosecution or disclosed the specific charges they may face. Investigations into the suspected criminal network and the electronic devices recovered during the raids are continuing.
GHANA CLARIFIES ITS ROLE IN THE OPERATION
The operation has also attracted attention over the respective roles played by Ghanaian and international security agencies.
Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority has emphasised that the operation was planned, coordinated and executed by Ghanaian authorities under the country’s laws, with support from international partners.
The clarification followed public statements about the operation by FBI Director Kash Patel. The CSA rejected suggestions that the exercise was independently conceived or led by the FBI, while acknowledging the intelligence contributions of both the FBI and the UK’s National Crime Agency.
The authority stressed that foreign law enforcement agencies cannot independently exercise police powers or conduct arrests in Ghana without the involvement and authorisation of the appropriate Ghanaian authorities.
It also called for the contributions of all participating institutions to be accurately reflected in public accounts of the operation.
QUESTIONS REMAIN OVER THE NUMBER OF NIGERIANS RETURNED
Although Ghanaian authorities announced the repatriation of 120 Nigerians, reports have cited differing figures concerning the number of people rescued and received in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) previously reported receiving 105 Nigerians rescued during the operation, following an earlier Ghanaian figure of 119 people rescued.
The figures may refer to different stages of the rescue and repatriation process, but the authorities have not publicly provided a complete explanation for the discrepancy.
The operation highlights the connection between human trafficking and cybercrime, particularly cases in which individuals may be recruited or transported under false pretences and subsequently exploited in fraudulent activities.
Ghanaian authorities say they remain committed to dismantling cybercriminal networks, protecting victims and strengthening cooperation with international partners. Investigations into the arrests and the evidence recovered during the operation are ongoing.
