The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has begun screening 105 Nigerians repatriated from Ghana following an operation targeting cybercrime syndicates, while 14 others await processing for their return.
The agency said Ghanaian authorities rescued 119 Nigerians during the operation, which was coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser following a request from Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority.
As of Monday, October 12, 2026, 105 of those rescued had returned to Nigeria, according to NAPTIP.
Receiving the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government, the agency’s Director-General, Binta Lami Adamu Bello, assured them of their safety and urged them to remain calm as officials assessed their individual circumstances.
She said NAPTIP would protect their dignity and welfare and provide appropriate assistance to support their reintegration.
The agency said the returnees would undergo screening and profiling to establish their circumstances and determine the protection and support they might require.
However, NAPTIP did not disclose where the Nigerians were found, the nature of the alleged cybercrime activities or whether arrests had been made. It also did not establish whether all those rescued were victims of trafficking, had been coerced into cybercrime or were suspected of participating in the operations.
The repatriation involved several Nigerian agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency, the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
NAPTIP also acknowledged the support of Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority, the Ghana Immigration Service and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency.
The agency said the operation highlighted the importance of international cooperation in tackling human trafficking, exploitation and other cross-border crimes.
It urged Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad to be wary of suspicious employment offers, scholarships and other arrangements involving unrealistic promises, vague job descriptions or questionable recruitment processes.
NAPTIP advised prospective migrants to verify opportunities before travelling to avoid circumstances that could expose them to exploitation.
The agency said it would continue working with security agencies and international partners to combat human trafficking and related offences.
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