Columns

NiDCOM receives 13 trafficked Nigerians rescued from Ghana, Mali

Published

3 weeks ago

May 19, 2025

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has received 13 trafficked Nigerians, including 12 girls and a five-year-old boy who were rescued from human trafficking rings in Ghana and Mali, according to a statement released on Sunday.

The rescue operation saw 11 of the victims returned from Ghana, while two women were repatriated from Mali, as revealed in a press release signed by NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

The 11 girls rescued from Ghana, aged between 16 and 30, are from Cross River (4), Benue (4), Imo (1), and Oyo (1) states. The two women rescued from Mali, aged 27 and 35, are from Adamawa State.

Speaking on behalf of NiDCOM Chairperson Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Mr. Dipo Odebowale, Head of the Commission’s Lagos Liaison Office, disclosed that the victims had been lured with false promises of employment, only to be forced into prostitution in Ghana.

He said the traffickers exploited the victims’ vulnerability under the guise of better opportunities abroad.

The two women rescued from Mali shared harrowing accounts of sexual abuse, physical assault, and emotional trauma with NiDCOM officials, including Head of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

Dabiri-Erewa reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to working with the victims’ respective state governments to ensure rehabilitation, reintegration, and psychological support.

She also called for stringent legal action against traffickers and urged greater efforts to publicly expose trafficking networks operating across West Africa.

The victims have since been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for profiling, counseling, and further support.

Up Next

Israel to allow limited food aid into Gaza

Don't Miss

JUST IN: The Nigerian Army has dismissed Lance Corporal, Samuel Emmanuel for alleged involvement in armed robbery.

Click to comment

Columns

NAHCON sets date for return of Nigerian pilgrims

Published

3 days ago

June 7, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has set June 9 for the commencement of the return journey of Nigerian pilgrims who completed this year’s Hajj rites in Saudi Arabia.

Chairman, NAHCON, Professor Abdullahi Saleh, made this known in a statement issued in Minna, where he congratulated Muslims on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

He said the return of Nigerian pilgrims will begin on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah which corresponds with June 9.

The return journeys will commence with pilgrims from Imo State via Air Peace while pilgrims from Bauchi State will fly back via Max Air

Columns

Tinubu Group Advises Nigerian Government To Settle Nnamdi Kanu’s Matter Through Arbitration ‎

Published

4 days ago

June 6, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

‎Grand Patron of One Nation for Asiwaju Support Group, Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government to settle the issue of Biafran nation agitator, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other agitators, out of court through a formidable national committee of arbitration.
‎
‎Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Ndarani, was optimistic that the move will lead to peace, and unity in diversity.
‎
‎“President Bola Tinubu should consider Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms like arbitration, conciliation and mediation in some of these cases concerning these agitators.High profile cases like Kanu’s are best resolved as quickly as possible because they evoke a lot of sentiments”

“Another reason for an expeditious resolution of the matter is because it would begin to heal festering wounds which we can certainly do without at this stage of our nationhood.

“Justice delayed is invariably justice denied” Ndarani said.

He urged President Tinubu to watch out for little foxes that spoil the vine while he is trying to hold Nigeria together as one indivisible nation.
‎
‎

Columns

Poor Nigerians Left In Detention As Judges Ignore Mandatory Monthly Inspections —Falana

Published

5 days ago

June 4, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Femi Falana

According to Falana, the inaction of the judiciary has left the poor vulnerable to arbitrary arrests, torture, and prolonged detention, while wealthy individuals can afford legal representation to protect their rights.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has accused the Nigerian judiciary of aiding the unlawful detention of poor citizens by failing to enforce the mandatory monthly inspections of police stations and detention facilities prescribed by law.

Speaking at the 1st NBA Western Zone Human Rights Summit in Ibadan on June 3, 2025, Falana said that despite the enactment of Section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in 2015, Chief Magistrates and Judges have neglected their duty to carry out monthly inspections.

“From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that visiting Chief Magistrates and Judges are empowered to order the release of detainees, or grant them bail or direct that they be arraigned in court,” he said.

According to Falana, since the passage of the ACJA, which should challenge illegal arrests and detentions, its protective measures have been observed in breach.

“But since the Act was enacted in May 2015, Chief Magistrates and Judges have failed to enforce the provisions of section 34 of ACJA by visiting all police stations and other detention facilities at least once a month,” he said.

He lamented that while the Chief Justice of Nigeria had directed state Chief Judges to enforce these provisions in 2018, there has been little practical compliance, and the Nigerian Bar Association’s Human Rights Committees have also failed to ensure these inspections take place.

“But in spite of the clear provisions of the ACJA and Police Establishment Act, Chief Magistrates and Judges have failed to conduct monthly visits to police stations and other detention facilities in the country,” he said in his address.

“Hence, the incessant arrest, detention and torture of poor citizens by the Police and other security agencies have since become the order of the day.

“The Nigerian Bar Association has not helped matters as the Human Rights Committee in its 130 branches have failed to ensure that Chief Magistrates and Judges conduct visits to police stations and other detention facilities.”

Falana called for immediate action to protect the fundamental rights of detainees and end what he described as systemic injustice against poor Nigerians.

“Section 34 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 provides that the Chief Magistrate, or where there is no Chief Magistrate within the police division, any Magistrate designated by the Chief Judge for that purpose, shall, at least every month, conduct an inspection of police stations or other places of detention within his territorial jurisdiction other than the prison,” he said stressing the provisions of the ACJA.