The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has announced the arrest of 93 Nigerian nationals for alleged involvement in internet fraud and immigration-related breaches.
According to the GIS, 73 victims were also rescued during a national operation that targeted six houses within the Devtraco Estate.
Officers also seized counterfeit US dollars, fake gold bars, 82 laptops, 57 mobile phones and 17 television sets believed to have been used to support their activities.
Investigations revealed that some suspects entered Ghana through unapproved routes, while others overstayed their 90-day visa-free stay. The rescued victims have since been repatriated to Nigeria.
In a statement issued by the Ghana Immigration Service on March 9, 2026, it read, “The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has arrested 93 Nigerian Nationals, comprising 91 males and 2 females, for alleged involvement in internet fraud and immigration-related breaches.
The intelligence-led operation led by Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) Newman Akuffo, from the National Operations of the (GIS), targeted six houses within the DEVTRACO Estate, successfully rescuing 73 victims who had endured severe torture and abuse at the hands of the suspects”.
He further added, “Items confiscated during the operation included counterfeit US dollars, fake gold bars, 82 laptops, 57 mobile phones, 17 television sets, and other household appliances being used to support their activities.
Investigations by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) revealed that some suspects entered Ghana via unapproved routes, while others overstayed their 90-day visa-free entry, Further probes continue at GIS National Headquarters, and the 73 rescued victims have been repatriated to Nigeria.
The Comptroller General of Immigration urges all foreign nationals to comply with Ghanaian laws. The Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) prohibits recruiting, transporting, or harbouring individuals through force, fraud, or abuse for exploitation. Penalties include 5-20 years imprisonment (life for child victims or aggravating factors) plus fines.
Additionally, under the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act -573), entering via unapproved routes or overstaying visas is criminal. Convicted offenders face summary conviction, fines, and 3 months to 2 years imprisonment”.
Meanwhile, some Ghanaians reacting to the news of the Nigerian arrest stated, “It’s heartbreaking to see how many of these young people were actually victims of human trafficking and torture. A big salute to the GIS for not only stopping the fraud but rescuing 73 people from those conditions”.
“I think you people need to do a follow-up to see what the end game is.. because a Nigerian on TikTok named aproudnigerian1 alleges that they take their money only to release them back”, a netizen added.
“They were arrested just to be extorted. How many of them FBI agents have come to arrest in Ghana, and how many Ghanaians have your police have arrested, yet the FBI keep coming for them”, one X user added.
A netizen added, “Is this not the same immigration that allowed them to enter without vetting them? They will be deported and will still sneak in through beat 10 and enter Ghana again”.
“It is not enough to just arrest them, we need a transparent legal process that ensures they are jailed for their crimes, while also tightening our borders to ensure everyone entering Ghana is properly documented”, one more X user added.
Meanwhile, Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Technologies, Sam George, has said the ₵399 MTN data bundle is attracting Nigerian Criminals to Ghana.
According to Sam George, the Nigerian High Commission to Ghana revealed this to him, saying Ghana’s cheap internet bundle and stable electricity are the things attracting Nigerian Criminals to Ghana.
Speaking to the media following President John Dramani Mahama’s delivery of the State of the Nation Address (SONA), Sam George stated, “On that bundle, the Nigerian High Commission to Ghana said to me it is the reason why we are seeing a lot of Nigerian criminals coming into Ghana.
Because our internet is the cheapest in the sub-region when you use the 399 bundle, and we have stable electricity”.
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The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has arrested 93 Nigerian nationals for alleged involvement in internet fraud and immigration-related breaches, rescuing 73 victims during a national operation that targeted six houses within the Devtraco Estate.#UTVGhana pic.twitter.com/RWueq5ZxWN
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) March 10, 2026