Police in Ghana have rescued 57 Nigerian nationals and arrested five suspects in a major operation targeting human trafficking and cybercrime in Accra. The raid, conducted on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, uncovered a network that allegedly lured young Nigerians to Ghana with false promises of employment.
Upon arrival, the victims—aged between 18 and 26—were forced to participate in online romance scams and other cyber-related crimes. Officers seized 77 laptops, 38 mobile phones, two vehicles, and several internet-enabled devices during the operation.
Authorities said on Thursday that the victims were receiving care and support while investigations continued. The Criminal Investigations Department revealed that the syndicate operated from a residential building in a suburb of the capital, coercing the victims into fraudulent online activities. Police did not specify when the rescued individuals would be repatriated but confirmed ongoing coordination with relevant agencies.
Despite repeated crackdowns, human trafficking and cybercrime rings remain widespread in Ghana and across West Africa. According to Ghana’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, there were 79 prosecutions and 54 convictions for human trafficking between 2023 and 2024. The recent arrests follow a broader Interpol operation across 14 African nations that dismantled several online scam networks, which collectively targeted over 1,400 victims and caused losses nearing $2.8 million.