Two Nigerians Sentenced to 20 Years Each in Ghana for Human Trafficking, Cybercrime

Two Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment each by a Ghanaian court after being convicted of trafficking fellow Nigerians into Ghana and forcing them to engage in cybercrime.

The convicts, Kingsley Ndifon (29) and Emmanuel Akong (25), 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 lured Nigerians to Ghana with promises of legitimate employment. However, upon arrival, the victims were allegedly held captive, stripped of their mobile phones and identity documents, and forced to carry out internet fraud using laptops supplied by the suspects.

The suspects were arrested on August 20, 2023, after the Afienya District Police Command received a distress call reporting that several people were being detained against their will in Sebrepor, a suburb of Tema.

Police officers, assisted by local residents, raided the property and rescued 11 Nigerian victims. During the operation, authorities recovered 16 laptops and one iPad believed to have been used in the criminal activities.

Investigators revealed that the victims were fed only once a day and were subjected to severe physical abuse whenever they failed to comply with instructions. Some reportedly sustained injuries after being beaten with laptop charging cables and machetes, while many were found to be malnourished when rescued.

Following the trial, the court sentenced each defendant to 20 years in prison for human trafficking and 10 years for causing harm. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning both men will serve 20 years' imprisonment.

The Tema Regional Police Command welcomed the judgment, reaffirming its commitment to tackling human trafficking, cyber-enabled crimes, and other forms of abuse. The command also urged members of the public to promptly report any suspected cases of human trafficking or related criminal activities to law enforcement authorities.

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