Two Nigerians Jailed 20 Years Each in Ghana for Trafficking Victims Into Cybercrime
By Staff Reporter
A Ghanaian court has sentenced two Nigerians to 20 years’ imprisonment each for trafficking fellow Nigerians into Ghana under the guise of offering them jobs and subsequently forcing them into cybercrime.
The convicts, identified as 29 year old Kingsley Ndifon and 25 year old Emmanuel Akong, were found guilty of human trafficking and causing harm by Circuit Court B in Tema following a full trial.
According to the Ghana Police Service, the two men recruited Nigerian nationals with promises of employment before allegedly confining them and compelling them to engage in internet fraud.
The suspects were arrested on August 20, 2023, at Sebrepor, a suburb of Tema, after police received information that several people were being held against their will.
A police team, assisted by residents, raided the premises and rescued 11 Nigerian nationals. Sixteen laptops and an iPad were also recovered.
Investigations revealed that the victims’ mobile phones and identity cards were allegedly confiscated, while they were forced to carry out cybercrime using laptops supplied by the suspects.
The police further said the victims were reportedly fed only once a day and subjected to severe physical abuse whenever they failed to comply with instructions.
Some of the victims were allegedly beaten with laptop cables and machetes, sustaining injuries including cutlass wounds. Police also found them malnourished and in poor health when they were rescued.
The suspects were subsequently prosecuted on charges including conspiracy to commit a crime, human trafficking and causing harm.
At the end of the trial, the court convicted both men of human trafficking and causing harm.
Each defendant was sentenced to 20 years for human trafficking and 10 years for causing harm, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently. They will therefore each spend 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 command also urged members of the public to promptly report suspected cases of human trafficking and related criminal activities to the police.
