Two jailed 20 years for trafficking Nigerians into cybercrime in Tema

Two men, Kingsley Ndifon and Emmanuel Akong, have been sentenced to 20 years in prison each for trafficking Nigerian nationals into Ghana under false pretenses and subsequently forcing them into cybercrime. The two were convicted of human trafficking and causing harm after a trial at Circuit Court ‘B’ in Tema.

The pair were apprehended on August 20, 2023, after a distress call was received by the Afienya District Police Command. A police patrol, aided by residents, stormed a house in Sebrepor, a Tema suburb, and rescued 11 Nigerian nationals who had been held against their will. The police also arrested the two suspects at the scene. Upon searching the house, they found 16 laptops and an iPad.

Further investigation revealed that the victims had been offered jobs in Ghana but were instead forced into cyber-related criminal activities after arriving in the country. They were held captive, stripped of their mobile phones and ID cards, and compelled to carry out internet fraud using laptops provided to them. The victims were reportedly malnourished and suffered severe physical abuse, including injuries from laptop cables and machetes.

Kingsley Ndifon and Emmanuel Akong were later brought before Circuit Court ‘B’ in Tema, where they were found guilty of conspiracy to commit crime, human trafficking, and causing harm. They were sentenced to 20 years for human trafficking and 10 years for causing harm, with sentences to run concurrently, meaning 20 years in prison for each.

The Tema Regional Police Command emphasized its commitment to combating human trafficking, cyber-related crimes, and all forms of abuse, urging the public to report suspected cases to the police.