Rescued Ghanaians Escape Football Fraud Ring in Nigeria

Many young Ghanaians were lured to Nigeria with false promises of football careers, only to face exploitation and coercion under dire conditions.

In a shocking turn of events, Ghanaian authorities have rescued 76 citizens who fell victim to a fraudulent football recruitment scheme in Nigeria. These individuals, predominantly young men, were misled with enticing offers of contracts with foreign football teams, job opportunities, and assistance with obtaining visas. However, upon arrival, their travel documents and mobile phones were confiscated, leaving them vulnerable and isolated in squalid living conditions.

Reports indicate that the victims were coerced into contacting their families for around $1,000 (£727), purportedly to cover training or facilitating fees. To compound their suffering, perpetrators allegedly leveraged the victims’ contacts to swindle their relatives and friends. Seven nationals from Ghana have been arrested in connection with these trafficking activities.

Lydia Yaako Donkor, the head of Ghana’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), addressed the media, revealing that the operation to rescue these victims took place between 19 May and 27 June this year, with the assistance of Interpol and Nigerian law enforcement. Although the victims have been freed, they are still awaiting repatriation to reunite with their families in Ghana.

Ms. Donkor urged families to thoroughly vet job offers and educational opportunities abroad, warning that victims are misled into traveling to unknown countries where they are often forced into "holding camps", housing as many as 40 individuals in poor conditions. Under duress, these individuals are then compelled to recruit more victims, inflicting further anguish on their loved ones.

The psychological and economic ramifications of these scams can be devastating, with many victims facing starvation and severe mental health challenges, significantly impairing their ability to return to a normal life. Furthermore, the company QNET, which has been linked to the scheme, has faced a ban in Ghana since 2022 for its involvement in alleged Ponzi scheme activities, though it denies any wrongdoing.

Incidents of individuals being misled by false job promises, leading to involvement in internet fraud, have become increasingly common in both Ghana and Nigeria, prompting ongoing police efforts to dismantle the networks behind these scams.