Air Peace has completed a humanitarian mission to repatriate 78 Nigerian women who were trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire under false promises of employment.
The airline provided the service at no cost, using a Boeing 737 aircraft (registration 5N-BQV), which departed from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and returned the same day after landing at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan.
Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema emphasized the mission’s goal of restoring the women’s dignity. “These women have endured unimaginable hardship.
They deserve not just to be brought home, but to be treated with care and respect,” Onyema said in a statement on Sunday. He also announced that the women would receive full medical care, free of charge, at Duchess Hospital in Lagos, covering both testing and any necessary treatments.
During the return flight, Onyema noted the women’s visible relief and joy.
“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 added.
Onyema credited social media activist VeryDarkMan for raising awareness about the women’s situation, and he urged Nigerians to remain alert to the dangers of human trafficking.
At the reception in Lagos, Binta Bello, Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), praised the cooperation among stakeholders that made the rescue possible.
She reiterated the agency’s resolve to fight trafficking, noting that some suspects have already been arrested. “This is a proud moment for Nigeria.
We welcome these women home with open arms and a commitment to help them rebuild their lives. Let this be a warning: Nigeria will never tolerate this crime,” she said.
Bello also extended gratitude to 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 managed documentation and logistics on the ground.
Obi described the women’s ordeal as heartbreaking and expressed hope that the rescue would restore their sense of humanity.
“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,” he said.