The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), in collaboration with national security agencies, has arrested 219 individuals in a sweeping raid dubbed Operation Rescue Shield. The operation targeted a suspected cybercrime hub in Oyarifa, Accra, where victims—primarily vulnerable foreigners—were allegedly lured with false job promises and later exploited. Among those arrested were 11 minors, with ages ranging from 15 to 38 years.
EOCO’s Acting Executive Director, Abdul Bashiru, revealed that the operation dismantled a sophisticated human trafficking network that preyed on individuals from Ghana and neighboring West African countries. He explained that the victims were promised employment, education, and improved living conditions, but instead, they were held in unsanitary, overcrowded quarters and forced into labor and cybercrime activities.
Items retrieved during the raid included laptops, internet routers, food supplies, and personal effects believed to support illegal operations. Bashiru emphasized that EOCO has initiated a comprehensive screening process to distinguish victims from perpetrators and to identify the nature of the crimes committed. “The essence of the screening is to separate victims from suspects, and also identify the types of criminal activities they may have been involved in,” he stated.
Representatives from the Nigerian High Commission have since engaged with EOCO officials and the affected individuals, encouraging full cooperation with ongoing investigations. One Nigerian victim shared his ordeal, recounting how he had been held at the Oyarifa residence for over a year with minimal food and no freedom of movement. “I came to Ghana seeking better opportunities, but I was trapped. I’ve been praying for rescue, and I’m grateful it finally came,” he said.
