Two Nigerians jailed 20 years each in Ghana for human trafficking

Ghanaian court has sentenced two Nigerian nationals to 20 years in prison each for trafficking fellow Nigerians into Ghana under the guise of offering them legitimate employment before forcing them to engage in cybercrime.

The convicts, Kingsley Ndifon, 29, and Emmanuel Akong, 25, were found guilty of human trafficking and causing harm by Circuit Court ‘B’ in Tema following a full trial.

The Ghana Police Service disclosed the development in a statement published on its official Facebook page on Wednesday.

According to the police, Ndifon and Akong recruited the victims in Nigeria by promising them employment opportunities in Ghana. However, upon their arrival, the victims were allegedly confined and forced to participate in internet fraud.

The victims were rescued on August 20, 2023, after the Afienya District Police Command received a distress call reporting that several people were being held against their will in a house at Sebrepor, a suburb of Tema.

Police officers, assisted by residents, stormed the premises and rescued 11 Nigerian nationals.

Ndifon and Akong were arrested during the operation, while investigators recovered 16 laptops and an iPad from the house.

Investigations subsequently established that the victims had travelled from Nigeria believing they had secured legitimate employment but were allegedly subjected to forced cybercrime activities after arriving in Ghana.

The Ghana Police Service said the suspects confiscated the victims’ mobile phones and identity cards and compelled them to use laptops provided by the traffickers to carry out internet fraud.

The victims were allegedly subjected to harsh living conditions and were reportedly fed only once a day.

Police further alleged that those who refused to participate in the activities or failed to meet the demands of the suspects were physically abused.

According to the police, some victims were allegedly beaten with laptop cables and machetes, resulting in injuries, including cutlass wounds.

Investigators also found the victims in poor health and malnourished conditions when they were rescued.

Ndifon and Akong were subsequently arraigned before Circuit Court ‘B’ in Tema, presided over by Justice Naomi Adusei Amamiampong Kucour.

They were charged with offences including conspiracy to commit crime, human trafficking and causing harm.

At the conclusion of the trial, the court convicted both men of human trafficking and causing harm.

The court sentenced each convict to 20 years’ imprisonment for human trafficking and an additional 10 years for causing harm.

However, the sentences were ordered to run concurrently, meaning each of the convicts will serve a total of 20 years in prison.

Reacting to the judgment, the Tema Regional Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to tackling human trafficking, cybercrime and other forms of abuse.

“The Tema Regional Police Command remains committed to combating human trafficking, cyber-related crimes and all forms of abuse,” the command said.

The police urged members of the public to promptly report suspected cases of human trafficking and other criminal activities to law enforcement authorities.