76 Ghanaians Rescued from football job Trafficking Scam in Nigeria

 

Authorities in Ghana have revealed that 76 Ghanaians, mostly young men, were rescued from a major human trafficking operation in Nigeria. According to the Ghana Police Service, these victims were deceived with promises of football contracts with elite foreign clubs, overseas job opportunities, or visa assistance. Once they arrived in Nigeria, their travel documents and mobile phones were confiscated. The traffickers then forced the victims to live in overcrowded, substandard rooms while compelling them to contact their families for money, typically around $1,000, under the pretext of paying for training or facilitation fees. The scheme also involved manipulating the victims' contact lists to scam friends and relatives back home. Ghana’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) head, Lydia Yaako Donkor, said seven Ghanaian suspects have already been arrested in connection to the crime. She emphasized that the rescue operation took place between 19 May and 27 June this year across various Nigerian states and was executed in collaboration with Interpol and Nigerian law enforcement. The victims are yet to be brought back to Ghana and reunited with their families. Donkor strongly advised families to thoroughly verify job or study offers abroad, warning that the process of coercion often begins with victims being told to travel by road to an unfamiliar country. Many are then transferred to holding camps where up to 40 individuals share one poorly maintained room, facing unsanitary conditions and emotional abuse. Some victims are manipulated into recruiting more people, including friends and family. The psychological toll is often long-lasting.

The Ghanaian CID described the physical and emotional trauma suffered by the trafficking victims as deeply damaging. Many of them were malnourished, emotionally broken, and unable to reintegrate into normal life after their ordeal. Authorities said that the psychological harm inflicted extends beyond the individuals to affect their entire families, many of whom were also tricked into sending money or unknowingly encouraging others to fall for similar scams. The scheme reportedly involved a fraudulent network operating across borders, and one company in particular, QNET, has been linked to the scam. The global lifestyle and wellness marketing firm has faced accusations of running a Ponzi scheme and was banned from operating in Ghana in 2022. However, QNET has consistently denied involvement in any fraudulent activities. Ghanaian police and CID are still investigating whether QNET has direct ties to the recent trafficking case. The CID boss said this incident is not an isolated one. Many young people across Ghana and Nigeria continue to fall victim to fake job and travel opportunities that ultimately lead them into internet fraud and trafficking networks. Criminal syndicates often present their operations as legitimate international programs or sports recruitment drives, gaining the trust of communities and families before exploiting the victims. Ghanaian authorities, in cooperation with Interpol and Nigerian officials, have pledged to continue the crackdown and bring all perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, public awareness is being heightened through media campaigns and community engagement, urging people to stay vigilant. The rescue mission not only exposed the scale of the scam but also highlighted the urgent need for stronger safeguards to protect vulnerable youth from exploitation. The government is expected to provide counseling and reintegration support for the victims once they return home.

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