Ghanaian authorities have announced the rescue of 76 individuals trafficked to Nigeria as part of a fraudulent football recruitment scheme. The victims, primarily young men, were enticed with offers of securing contracts with major international football clubs and job placements overseas, along with help in processing visas. However, after arriving in Nigeria, they found themselves stripped of their travel documents and mobile phones and confined to overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.
The victims were subjected to pressure tactics that forced them to reach out to their families for approximately $1,000 (£727) under the pretense of needing funds for training or processing fees. The operators of the fraud reportedly exploited the victims' contact lists to further scam their relatives and friends.
Seven suspects from Ghana have been arrested in connection with the trafficking. The head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Ghana, Lydia Yaako Donkor, stated that the rescue mission, which took place between May 19 and June 27, was conducted in collaboration with Interpol and Nigerian law enforcement.
While the victims are set to return to their families in Ghana, the CID has urged others to exercise caution regarding seemingly attractive job offers abroad. Donkor highlighted the manipulative nature of the scam, where victims are misled into traveling to unfamiliar locations, subsequently moved to "holding camps," often enduring conditions that resemble imprisonment with as many as 40 people crammed into small rooms.
The psychological and economic toll on the victims, many of whom are left malnourished and traumatized, has been grave. Ms. Donkor emphasized the need for families to diligently verify any lucrative job proposals before their loved ones act on them.
Notably, QNET, a global marketing company allegedly involved in this recruitment scandal, was banned from operating in Ghana in 2022 for suspected Ponzi scheme activities—a claim that the company continues to deny. Instances of individuals being lured by false promises of employment, only to find themselves ensnared in fraudulent schemes, are increasingly prevalent in both Ghana and Nigeria.
Law enforcement agencies remain focused on uncovering the fully extent of the trafficking network and bringing all responsible parties to justice.
