76 Ghanaians Rescued from Nigerian Football Trafficking Scheme

Young men lured with promises of international football contracts were trafficked to Nigeria. Authorities confirmed their rescue as investigations continue into the trafficking operation and its masterminds.

In a shocking revelation, 76 Ghanaians have been rescued from Nigeria after being trafficked under a fraudulent football recruitment scheme, according to reports from Ghana's police force. These victims, primarily young men, were promised legitimate contracts with foreign football teams, job opportunities abroad, and assistance with obtaining visas.

Upon arrival in Nigeria, however, their travel documents and mobile phones were confiscated, leaving them stranded in poor living conditions. They were subsequently coerced into reaching out to their families to solicit approximately $1,000 (£727) each for supposed training or facilitation expenses. Additionally, it was reported that the scammers accessed these victims’ contact lists to extort money from friends and relatives.

The head of Ghana's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Lydia Yaako Donkor, disclosed during a press briefing that this rescue operation took place in collaboration with Interpol and local Nigerian law enforcement. The victims were located across several states in Nigeria between May 19 and June 27 of this year, although they have yet to be repatriated to Ghana to reunite with their families.

Donkor emphasized the importance of thoroughly verifying job offers and educational opportunities abroad, warning that victims are often convinced to take dangerous and unfamiliar routes for travel. Once trafficked, they face awful conditions in makeshift "holding camps" where they are coerced into participating in the recruitment of new victims, deceiving even their loved ones.

She noted the severe psychological and economic repercussions of these scams on both the victims and their families. Reports indicate that many survivors suffer from malnutrition and psychological distress that can hinder their ability to return to normal life.

QNET, a global company linked to this fraudulent scheme, has faced significant scrutiny and has been banned from operating in Ghana since 2022 due to allegations of running a Ponzi scheme, which the company has continuously denied.

Instances of individuals being tricked into false job opportunities are rampant in both Ghana and Nigeria, with law enforcement agencies now vowing to apprehend all participants behind this alarming trafficking operation.