Air Peace Limited has evacuated 78 women who were illegally transported from Nigeria to Côte d’Ivoire for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
The airline said in a statement that it deployed its Boeing 737 aircraft, operating from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to the Felix Houphouet-Boigny International Airport, Abidjan to bring back the women.
It further stated that the gesture marked yet another milestone in its long-standing commitment to the Nigerian people.
Addressing journalists after the evacuation flight arrived at the Lagos Airport, the chairman and chief executive officer of the airline, Mr Allen Onyema expressed deep concern about the health of the returnees and reaffirmed his personal and corporate commitment to restoring their dignity
That is where I treat myself; I don’t look down on anybody. They also deserve the best. That is why we enrolled all of them in Duchess Hospital. We got the names of 150 at first.
“Today (Saturday) we have about 78; they are going to Duchess Hospital… But tomorrow morning, all of them will be there. If you want to see them, you will see them. They will test them. Whatever you have, Air Peace will bear the brunt of the treatment—not just tests—so that we can release them into society.
“Most importantly, we want to make them understand their humanity. They were made to feel subhuman by the treatment they endured in Côte d’Ivoire. We want them to feel valued again. Inside the aircraft, they were all very happy. They felt wanted by their nation.
Now, when they go to seven-star hospital…they will say, ‘Wow, this is me in this kind of place.’ These are the kinds of things we need to instill in the citizenry,” he added.
Onyema commended a social media activist, Mr Martins Vincent Otse, popularly called VeryDarkMan for bringing the victims’ plight to light, and called on citizens to be vigilant and supportive in combating human trafficking.
In his remarks, the director general of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Bello expressed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to eradicating trafficking:
“It is with a deep sense of pride, gratitude and responsibility that I welcome you…. This is a momentous occasion—a day that marks not only the safe return of our beloved daughters, but also a reaffirmation of our unwavering commitment to the fight against human trafficking.
“To the young women who have just returned, we say, welcome home. You were taken far from the safety and dignity you deserve, but today you are back on Nigerian soil and you are not alone. You are home, and this country stands with you,” she said.
Bello thanked the federal government for its constant support, and particularly Air Peace for its generous and patriotic assistance.
“Your partnership is a shining example of how the private sector can contribute meaningfully to national efforts,” she added.
The statement said the mission was further made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Office of the chargée d’affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, led by Mr Paul Obi, and the president of the Nigerian Community in Côte d’Ivoire, Mr Michael Emeka Nnwuchelu, who jointly facilitated the documentation process and logistical support.
