A police operation in the Upper Denkyira West District of Ghana has uncovered a disturbing human trafficking and sexual exploitation ring, leading to the arrest of 39 Nigerians and exposing harrowing accounts of abuse.
The Central North Regional Police Command, acting on intelligence, raided a location in Nipanekro near Subin, where they found what authorities described as a “modern-day slavery network.”
Young Women Trapped in Prostitution
According to police, 33 of the arrested individuals were young Nigerian women between the ages of 16 and 25. Investigators believe they were trafficked into Ghana and forced into prostitution under inhumane conditions. The remaining six suspects—all men—are alleged to have facilitated the operation by supplying drugs and other illicit support.
Central North Regional Police Commander, ACP Abraham Acquaye, told reporters that the women are being treated as victims rather than criminals. “They are victims of circumstance and will be handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for repatriation to Nigeria,” he stated.
Accounts of Brutal Treatment
The victims revealed chilling details of the abuse they endured at the hands of their alleged ringleader, a woman identified only as “Mama Rich.”
They claimed they were forced to meet daily financial quotas—GH¢1,000 on Mondays and GH¢500 on other days—or face grotesque punishments. Several women recounted being forced to eat human faeces when they failed to meet targets.
Police also confirmed that the women were coerced into sleeping with as many as 20 men per day in order to generate the required sums.
Rituals and Psychological Manipulation
Beyond physical abuse, the victims disclosed that they were subjected to terrifying spiritual rituals. They were allegedly forced to swear oaths of loyalty while naked at shrines, with threats of insanity or death if they ever tried to escape.
Investigators say this form of psychological and spiritual manipulation was used to maintain absolute control over the women.
Male Suspects in Custody
The six male suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue into their alleged role in facilitating the trafficking network and sustaining the drug trade that financed the exploitation.
Authorities say the raid highlights the brutal realities of human trafficking in Ghana, where vulnerable individuals are trapped not only through violence and financial bondage but also through fear and manipulation.
Source – My News Ghana
About the Author
