A criminal organization involved in human trafficking in Ghana, deceiving people with promises of becoming football players, has been exposed.
Most of the victims involved were young men who were promised contracts with top football clubs, job opportunities abroad, or assistance with visa processing.
However, 76 Ghanaians who were deceived with these promises and taken to Nigeria were rescued by the police. Authorities reported that upon arrival in Nigeria, the victims had their travel documents and mobile phones confiscated and were kept in overcrowded rooms under poor conditions.
FAMILIES FORCED TO MAKE CALLS AND REQUEST MONEY
The victims were forced to call their families to send approximately $1,000 under the pretext of training or facilitation fees. Additionally, the scammers used the victims’ phone contact lists to defraud their friends and relatives in a similar manner.
In an operation carried out in cooperation with Nigerian security forces and Interpol, Ghana’s Criminal Investigation Department arrested seven suspects linked to the case.
Between June 19 and June 27, rescue operations took place in various Nigerian states, saving the victims. However, they have not yet been repatriated.
Lydia Yaako Donkor, head of Ghana’s Criminal Investigation Department, stated that in such fraud cases, victims are often convinced to travel by road to unfamiliar countries.
She warned people to carefully verify the legitimacy of overseas job offers.