Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema has vowed to repatriate underage Nigerian girls trafficked to Ivory Coast at no cost. The airline will also provide them with free medical care. Onyema urges government support for their education and reintegration, calling the trafficking “inhumane” and demanding collective action against it.
Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema has pledged to repatriate a group of underage Nigerian girls recently discovered to have been trafficked to Ivory Coast. The airline will cover all costs for their return, signaling a bold stance against what Onyema describes as a “callous and inhumane” crime.
In a statement shared via the airline's official X (formerly Twitter) account, Onyema condemned the exploitation of minors and called for a united front against human trafficking in West Africa. “This is not just illegal — it’s a moral failure,” he said. “We at Air Peace are prepared to bring these girls home without charge. Humanity must come first.”
Beyond transportation, Onyema also committed to supporting the physical and emotional well-being of the victims. Once home, the girls will be taken to Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, where they will receive full medical assessments and treatment at no cost.
The airline’s intervention comes amid growing concern over the increasing number of young Nigerians lured abroad under false pretenses, only to become victims of forced labor and exploitation. Onyema urged Nigerian diplomatic authorities in Côte d’Ivoire to coordinate logistics for the evacuation and appealed to the federal government to ensure the girls are reintegrated into society, including access to continued education.
As calls mount for stronger anti-trafficking enforcement and survivor support, Onyema’s move is being hailed as a critical example of private sector compassion stepping in where government efforts have sometimes fallen short.
