Police rescue seven Nigerians, arrest three human traffickers in Ashaiman

The Tema Regional Police Command has dismantled a human trafficking and cyber fraud syndicate operating in Peace Land, Ashaiman. The operation led to the rescue of seven Nigerian nationals and the arrest of three suspects believed to be the masterminds behind the crime.

According to a statement issued by the Police on Friday, October 10, 2025, the raid was carried out by the Zenu–Atadeka District Police Patrol Team on Tuesday, October 7, around 4:00 p.m. The operation, which followed weeks of intelligence gathering, resulted in the arrest of Peter Okoyie, 36, a computer engineer; Jolly Ezekiel, 30; and Jolly Shadrack, 33.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects lured their victims from Nigeria to Ghana with promises of construction jobs in the Tema area. However, upon arrival, the victims were confined in a house at Peace Land and forced to participate in online fraud schemes under harsh and exploitative conditions.

The Police disclosed that the victims were subjected to severe beatings and made to swear oaths of loyalty to the traffickers. Those who resisted were locked in a small 10×12-foot room, denied food, water, and basic hygiene, and deprived of their freedom for months.

Further accounts from the victims indicate that each was issued a laptop and trained to establish fake online romantic relationships with unsuspecting individuals abroad. The syndicate reportedly operated with over ten laptops, using them to defraud people and send proceeds to their superiors, who controlled the entire network.

A subsequent search of the suspects’ residence led to the discovery of laptops, Wi-Fi routers, mobile phones, household goods, and food items, all believed to be linked to their criminal activities. The Police have retained the items as exhibits to support ongoing investigations. Additionally, the seized mobile phones have been sent to the Cyber Crime Unit at the Police Headquarters in Accra for forensic analysis.

The Tema Regional Police Command has assured the public that it is working closely with other security agencies to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate, both locally and internationally. It also urged the public to remain alert and report any suspicious movements or illegal recruitment activities to the nearest police station.