Ghanaian authorities have arrested 93 Nigerians allegedly linked to cybercrime and human trafficking, while rescuing 73 others reportedly subjected to abuse and forced confinement.
According to a report by ABC News GH on Tuesday, citing the Ghana Immigration Service, 91 men and two women were taken into custody on charges including cybercrime and immigration violations.
The 73 rescued victims have since been repatriated to Nigeria.
The arrests followed coordinated raids on six properties at the DEVTRACO Estate, reportedly targeting a network involved in internet fraud and the unlawful detention of individuals.
Deputy Superintendent of Immigration Newman Akuffo, who led the operation under the GIS National Operations Unit, said officers recovered numerous items linked to alleged criminal activities, including 82 laptops, 57 mobile phones, 17 television sets, counterfeit US dollars, and fake gold bars.
“The operation demonstrates our commitment to rooting out criminal networks exploiting our communities,” Akuffo said.
Initial investigations indicated that several suspects had entered Ghana through unauthorised routes, while others had overstayed their visa-free entry period granted to Nigerians.
The Comptroller-General of GIS warned that offenders risk prosecution under Ghana’s Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), which criminalises the recruitment, transportation, or harbouring of individuals for exploitation through force, fraud, or abuse. Convictions can attract five to 20 years in prison, with cases involving children or aggravating circumstances carrying life imprisonment.
Violations of Ghana’s immigration laws, including illegal entry or overstaying, may also result in fines or imprisonment ranging from three months to two years.
The operation is considered one of the largest anti-fraud and anti-human trafficking interventions in recent years, reflecting Ghana’s intensified effort to dismantle cybercrime networks operating in residential areas.
The crackdown comes amid heightened scrutiny of Nigerians abroad.
Earlier this week, 42 Nigerians were reportedly detained at a spare parts market in Mozambique, a move condemned by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission as potentially xenophobic. NIDCOM Chairman and CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the arrests as disturbing, noting that the affected Nigerians had not reportedly committed any offences.
