Authorities in Ghana have arrested 93 Nigerians over alleged cybercrime and human trafficking activities in Accra, while rescuing 73 other Nigerians reportedly subjected to torture and abuse.
A report by ABC News GH on Tuesday, citing the Ghana Immigration Service, revealed that among those arrested were 91 men and two women facing charges related to cybercrime and immigration violations. The 73 rescued victims have been repatriated to Nigeria.
The mass arrests followed coordinated operations in six houses at the DEVTRACO Estate, targeting a network allegedly involved in internet fraud and unlawful detention of individuals.
Deputy Superintendent of Immigration Newman Akuffo, who led the operation under the GIS National Operations Unit, said officers recovered a substantial quantity of items, including 82 laptops, 57 mobile phones, 17 television sets, counterfeit US dollars, and fake gold bars believed to have been used in fraudulent schemes.
“The operation demonstrates our commitment to rooting out criminal networks exploiting our communities,” Akuffo said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that several suspects had entered Ghana through unauthorised border routes, while others overstayed their 90-day visa-free entry granted to Nigerians.
The Comptroller-General of GIS warned that violators 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. Offenders may face five to 20 years in prison, with cases involving children or other aggravating circumstances attracting life imprisonment.
Violations of Ghana’s immigration laws, including illegal entry or overstaying, may also result in fines or jail terms ranging from three months to two years.
The operation is described as one of the largest anti-fraud and anti-human trafficking interventions in recent years, highlighting Ghana’s intensified efforts to dismantle cybercrime networks operating in residential areas.
This comes amid growing scrutiny of Nigerians abroad following mass arrests in other countries. Earlier this week, 42 Nigerians were reportedly detained at a spare parts market in Mozambique, an action the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission condemned as a potential xenophobic attack.
NIDCOM Chairman and CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the Mozambique arrests as disturbing, particularly since no offences had reportedly been levied against the affected Nigerians.
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