Air Peace offers to evacuate Nigerian girls

Chairman of Air Peace Ltd., Dr Allen Onyema has activated plans to evacuate Nigerian underage girls trafficked to Ivory Coast at no cost.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos, Onyema described the trafficking of young Nigerian girls as inhumane, callous, and ungodly.

His statement followed widespread concern after a social media activist, VeryDarkMan, exposed the alleged exploitation of the girls in Abidjan. The victims were reportedly lured with false promises of decent jobs but were later forced into prostitution.

Onyema stated that Air Peace was prepared to bring the girls back to Nigeria without charging any fee for the flight. He also offered free medical treatment for all of them at a Lagos-based hospital.

“We should discourage trafficking of any kind. It is inhumane and a good example of man’s inhumanity to man,” Onyema said.

“We in Air Peace are ready to bring our fellow citizens back home free of charge. Beyond that, we are going to send all of them to Duchess International Hospital in Ikeja for free medical examination and treatment,” he added.

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He urged the Nigerian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire to identify and assemble the girls, and reach out to Air Peace for immediate evacuation.

Onyema appealed to the Federal Government to take charge of their welfare, ensure their education, and support efforts to reunite them with their families.

Air Peace launched its Lagos-Abidjan direct flight operations in January 2024. The route is expected to facilitate the evacuation process once the girls are ready to be flown back.

No official number of victims has been confirmed, but several videos circulating online have shown dozens of girls asking for help.

Efforts are underway to coordinate actions between the airline, the Nigerian Embassy, and other relevant agencies to initiate the return.

The development has triggered increased public interest in addressing trafficking and protecting vulnerable Nigerians abroad.

NAN