By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Air Peace has successfully carried out a humanitarian mission to repatriate 78 Nigerian women trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire under false pretences of employment.
The airline deployed a Boeing 737 aircraft (registration 5N-BQV) which departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Saturday and landed at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport, Abidjan, before returning with the victims on the same day entirely free of charge.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, underscored the importance of restoring the dignity of the rescued women. “These women have endured unimaginable hardship. They deserve not just to be brought home, but to be treated with care and respect,” he said.
Onyema announced that the women would receive comprehensive medical care, free of charge, at Duchess Hospital. “Air Peace will cover all expenses not just testing, but any treatment required,” he added.
Highlighting the emotional resonance of the operation, Onyema noted that the women expressed joy and a renewed sense of belonging during the flight. “This is about making them feel human again. They were dehumanised abroad. Now they are going to see that their country values them. That’s the message we want to send,” he stated.
He also acknowledged the efforts of social media activist VeryDarkMan, whose advocacy helped bring the women’s plight to national attention, and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against human trafficking networks.
At the reception in Lagos, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Binta Bello, commended the collaboration that made the rescue possible and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combatting human trafficking.
“This is a proud moment for Nigeria. We welcome these women home with open arms and a commitment to help them rebuild their lives. Some traffickers have already been arrested and will face justice. Let this be a warning: Nigeria will never tolerate this crime,” she said.
Bello also thanked the Nigerian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire and the Nigerian community there for their support. Chargée d’Affaires, Paul Obi, and community leader Michael Onwuchelu coordinated documentation and logistics on the ground.
Obi remarked, “These young women were lured with false hopes and ended up in dire conditions. Bringing them home has restored not just their freedom, but their sense of humanity.”
He added, “This mission reflects the spirit of unity and compassion that defines us as Nigerians. We thank Dr Onyema for not turning his back on our people.”