A group of 115 Nigerian nationals, rescued after falling victim to trafficking in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, have returned home aboard a special humanitarian flight, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the ministry revealed that the repatriation, set to land at 3 p.m. at Lagos’ Murtala Mohammed International Airport, is being carried out free of charge through the support of Air Peace, a Nigerian airline committed to aiding victims of human trafficking.
The returnees, many of whom are reportedly underage girls, were evacuated following increasing concern over the exploitation of Nigerian citizens abroad. The intervention follows a public commitment by Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, who earlier pledged to fly trafficked girls back to Nigeria at no cost.
Speaking through the airline’s official X handle, Onyema condemned human trafficking as “inhumane, callous, and ungodly,” urging national institutions to work collectively to eradicate the scourge.
“We’re not just bringing them home, we’re also offering full medical examinations and treatment at Duchess International Hospital in Ikeja,” he stated.
Onyema also called on the Nigerian government to take further responsibility in reintegrating the victims, particularly by supporting their education and reuniting them with their families.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry reaffirmed that the return operation was conducted without financial input from the Nigerian government, underlining the collaborative effort between public and private actors in responding to the humanitarian need.
