The Nigeria Police Force has rescued a 24-year-old Ghanaian national who was allegedly trafficked into Nigeria with a false promise of travelling to Canada. Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime.
Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the victim was freed during a coordinated operation by INTERPOL Annex, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, in Ofada, Ogun State.
According to Adejobi, the operation followed a request for assistance from Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Accra, Ghana, after reports of the victim’s disappearance.
“The Nigeria Police Force, in its sustained efforts to combat cross-border crimes, successfully rescued the victim and arrested five suspects, including Ghanaian and Nigerian nationals, during a special operation in Ofada, Ogun State,” the statement read.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim and his father were trafficked into Nigeria in July 2025 by a 25-year-old Ghanaian woman, Hassana Abban, who allegedly duped them with the promise of securing Canadian visas.
Adejobi said Abban allegedly collected 40,000 Ghanaian cedis (about ₦4.96 million) from the family for the bogus travel package.
Upon their arrival in Nigeria, the suspects reportedly seized their passports and phones before forcing them into activities linked to fraudulent online trading platforms.
The arrested suspects were identified as Hassana Abban, Odubuasi David (Nigerian), Yahaya Salifu (Ghanaian), Sherifa Haruna (Ghanaian), and Ebenezer Ofosu (Ghanaian).
The police spokesperson confirmed that the rescued victim has been reunited with his family in Ghana, while investigations continue to unravel the wider network behind the trafficking ring.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the officers for their professionalism, stressing that the force would not relent in dismantling criminal syndicates operating across borders.
“We will continue to work closely with our regional partners to ensure that no trafficker or fraud syndicate escapes justice,” Egbetokun assured.
The suspects remain in police custody and are expected to face prosecution upon conclusion of investigations.
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