In a major stride against human trafficking, 78 Nigerian girls and young women who were trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire were successfully rescued and brought back home early Sunday morning.
leading private health facilities. Medical teams would conduct thorough screenings for pregnancy, HIV, and other conditions stemming from their abuse.
“Some of them are pregnant. We need to test them for HIV. We must protect not only them but the entire population they will reintegrate into,” he stated.
Furthermore, Onyema pledged that Air Peace, through its corporate social responsibility arm, would fully fund all medical care and rehabilitation services required to reintegrate the girls into society.
“We have already enrolled them at Duchess Hospital. All 150 on our list, whenever they arrive, will be taken care of. No one should be made to feel subhuman again,” he added.
The Air Peace founder also called for national unity and a shift away from divisive politics and stigmatization.
“Nigeria is already stigmatized globally. We don’t need to add ethnic or religious divides to our problems. We need broad nationalism—fighting for each other, not against each other.”
Sunday’s operation is reportedly the first wave of a broader rescue mission involving 150 Nigerian girls trapped under similar conditions in Côte d’Ivoire. Onyema pledged that Air Peace would continue to fly them home as arrangements progress.
The visibly emotional returnees were welcomed by immigration officials, support staff from Duchess Hospital, and human rights advocates. Many expressed relief and gratitude, with some bursting into tears as they disembarked.
