Human Trafficking:115 Victims Return From Ivory Coast, Foreign Ministry Confirms

By: The New Diplomat

Cat:

May 10, 2025

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By Abiola Olawale

The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the repatriation of 115 Nigerian nationals, identified as victims of human trafficking, from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Saturday.

It was gathered that the 115 victims, primarily young Nigerians, were rescued from a trafficking ring in Ivory Coast, where they were allegedly subjected to exploitation, including forced cybercrime operations.

In a statement issued Saturday, signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the Ministry disclosed that the returnees are victims of human trafficking and will arrive in Lagos State.

The statement reads in part: “The Ministry wishes to inform that one hundred and fifteen (115) Nigerian nationals that are victims of trafficking will be repatriated from Abidjan, Ivory Coast to Nigeria today via a special flight operated by Air Peace at no cost to the Nigerian Government.

“The estimated time of arrival is 3pm Nigerian time at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.”

This repatriation follows a similar operation on April 26, 2025, when 231 Nigerian trafficking victims were rescued from Ghana, signalling a growing regional effort to dismantle trafficking networks.

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