Air Peace Offers Free Evacuation, Treatment for Trafficked Nigerian Girls in Ivory Coast

Allen Onyema, CEO of Air Peace, has pledged to evacuate underage Nigerian girls reportedly trafficked to Ivory Coast and bring them home at no cost.

The offer follows a viral video shared by social media activist VeryDarkMan, showing some of the girls alleging they were trafficked and forced into sex work. One 15-year-old girl claimed she was drugged and taken from Ibadan through Niger Republic before ending up in Ivory Coast.

Describing the situation as “inhumane, callous, and ungodly,” Onyema condemned all forms of human trafficking and emphasized the need for national unity in tackling the crisis.

“We in Air Peace are ready to bring our fellow citizens back home free of charge,” Onyema said in a statement issued on Saturday. “In addition, we will send them to Duchess International Hospital in Ikeja for free medical checks and treatment.”

He called on the Nigerian embassy in Ivory Coast to locate and gather the girls, assuring that Air Peace will handle their safe return. Onyema also urged the federal government to support the girls’ rehabilitation, education, and reintegration with their families.

This intervention comes amid ongoing efforts by government agencies to curb human trafficking. Earlier this year, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) rescued 21 minors in Niger State, while the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) repatriated 13 trafficked girls from Ghana in 2024.