Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Traoré Kalilou
The Ivorian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Traoré Kalilou, informed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad, Léon Kacou Adom, of the return of 10 Ivorian citizens who were victims of Nigerian human trafficking networks.
The ambassador said that arrangements were being made for the victims, Coulibaly Ibrahim, Ouattara Abou, Bora Mamadou, Souley Mané Ahidara, Ouattara Drissa, Idrissa Inza, Madou Diarrassouba, Abibacar Wagailo, Diallo Moussa and Aka-Bi Go Benoit Moise, to be sent back to Côte d’Ivoire, where they left after a Nigerian network had promised them a better life. It was reported that a vehicle of the Ivorian diplomatic mission in Nigeria will take them back home.
Minister Kalilou said he had alerted the minister to the existence of a large Nigerian fraud and deception network targeting many young people in the region, including Ivorian nationals.
In recent months, the Embassy has received several Ivorian victims who escaped captivity. The Government has provided as much assistance as possible to facilitate their return to Côte d’Ivoire.
kalilou said the embassy also contacted the Nigerian police authorities. As part of its support to its compatriots, the embassy is preparing to return 10 more people, including nine victims to Abidjan, Traoré Kalilou announced in a letter addressed to Kacou Adom.
The ambassador reiterated that many other compatriots in Nigeria are still in distress and have fallen prey to the same fraud networks.
He stressed that the Vice-President of the Senate, Chantal Fanny, has provided financial support to facilitate the return of these victims.
