Two Nigerians arrested for allegedly kidnapping and trafficking young Nigerians to Ghana for cybercrime

Two Nigerians identified as Paul Okafor and Duru Favour have been arrested in Gomoa Pomadze, Ghana for allegedly engaging in kidnapping and trafficking of young Nigerians to perpetrate cyber-crime activities in the country.

DSP Irene Oppong, Regional Police Public Relations Officer and Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHT) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) said 39 victims, all Nigerians in their twenties were rescued after a raid was carried out. 

The statement partly read; 

“On July 12, 2020, upon information received from an informant, the Winneba District Police Commander dispatched a Police Patrol team to Gomoa Pomadze where they met 3 Ghanaians in the company of Charles Ikorohk, aged 21 and a Nigerian. Charles Ikorohk told the team that he arrived into the country from Nigeria to visit a friend but couldn’t trace him and got stranded.

“The Central Regional Police PRO, Charles Ikorohk told the team that he met one Uzo at the Kwame Nkrumah interchange area who later introduced him to Arisuezo another Nigerian who transported him to Winneba and kept him in a walled house together with other young Nigerians who were locked up in a room, prevented from leaving the compound and subjected to other inhuman treatment as well as engaging in cybercrime.”

Charles reportedly escaped on Sunday, July 12 at about 0800 hours after being asked to weed the compound.  A tip-off led to a raid at the apartment and rescue of the trafficked Nigerians. 

DSP Irene Oppong disclosed that the victims were forced to engage in cybercrimes and given a target they must reach. They were reportedly abused when they fail to meet their target. She added that one of the suspects, Michael Arisuezo is currently on the run and further called on the general public to provide information leading to his arrest.