Again, Immigration Arrest Ghanaian Human Trafficking Suspects at MMIA

Chinedu Eze

Less than two weeks after the apprehension of eight Ghanaians at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos for attempted human trafficking, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested another batch of four suspects from the West African nation for the same offence.

The four Ghanaians, who were arrested at the weekend, were between the ages of 22 and 25 years were allegedly on their way to Europe for prostitution before they were stopped after interrogation by Immigration officials.

Immigration said the four had entered Nigeria through road from Togo and Benin Republic, while they also planned to travel out of Nigeria through Egypt Air before they were apprehended by the immigration officials at the airport.
Among others, Immigration official, who spoke with THISDAY in confidence, named the suspects to include Asare Mary, 24 and Ameyaa Naomi, 23.

The suspected Ghanaians confessed to the crime, noting that they had attempted to use Nigeria as a transit point to connect Europe via Egypt Air.

The ladies, who were identified with their Ghanaian international passports, on further interrogation lamented that the hardship in Ghana prompted them to attempt in the trade, adding that their sponsors who they refused to name bought them air tickets.

After interrogation, the four ladies were handed over to officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for possible deportation back to their country.

The source said, “Once again, our officials at the Lagos Airport have stopped four Ghanaians from using our country as a transit point to Europe to engage in prostitution.

“Our investigation has revealed that some unscrupulous elements within the West Coast want to use our country as a transit point to Europe or even Middle East, but our officials have been trained to detect such people, either Nigerians or foreigners. We consistently stop them and we will continue to do that.”

A fortnight ago eight Ghanaians were caught, attempting to travel with the same airline through MMIA to Kuwait where they hoped to cross to Europe for prostitution before they were intercepted.

The ladies were booked on Egypt Air out of Lagos to Cairo, from where they had hoped to transit to Kuwait before departing to Europe.