A court in Ghana has sentenced Kingsley Ndifon, 29, and Emmanuel Akong, 25, for the trafficking of 11 Nigerian nationals and involvement in cyber fraud. 

Authorities confirmed that the convicts were arrested on August 20, 2023, at Sebrepor, a suburb of Tema, after an emergency call was received by the police about individuals being kept against their will.

Investigations by the Ghana Police Service found the 11 Nigerian nationals in a house where they were allegedly forced into cybercrime after being promised opportunities and better lives when they arrived in Ghana. 

The convicts took away their mobile phones and their identification cards when they arrived. The police also recovered 16 laptops and an iPad at the residence in Sebrepor. 

Authorities also alleged that the victims were fed once a day and subjected to severe physical abuse by the suspects, leading to injuries from laptop cables and machetes. The police said these conditions left many malnourished and in poor health.

Both men have been charged with the conspiracy to commit human trafficking, human trafficking, and causing harm. 

The court sentenced each person to 20 years’ imprisonment and 10 years for causing harm, with both sentences set to run at the same time.