Dr. Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace airlines, has expressed his deep concern and condemnation over the recent revelation of Nigerian underage girls trafficked to Côte d'Ivoire.
Onyema made this known through a statement he personally signed and shared with journalists on Saturday. In his statement, Onyema pledged that Air Peace would assist in the safe return of the girls to Nigeria from the French-speaking West African country, at no cost.
The issue came to light when social media influencer Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, revealed on Thursday that around 1,200 underage Nigerian girls were trafficked to Côte d'Ivoire and were being exploited there. Otse further threatened to hold Abike Dabiri, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, accountable if the girls were not brought back to Nigeria within a week. A video shared by Otse showed him comforting crying Nigerian girls who spoke in Hausa.
In response, Onyema called for collective efforts to combat trafficking, condemning it as inhumane and immoral. He reaffirmed Air Peace’s commitment to bringing the girls back to Nigeria and offering them immediate medical care upon their return.
“We must all work together to discourage trafficking in any form,” Onyema stated. “It is cruel, inhumane, and absolutely ungodly—an example of man’s inhumanity to man. Air Peace is ready to bring our fellow citizens home free of charge.”
Onyema also promised that upon their return, the trafficked girls would be sent to Duchess International Hospital in Ikeja for free medical examination and treatment. He urged the Nigerian Embassy in Côte d'Ivoire to facilitate the assembly of the girls and reach out to Air Peace for their repatriation. He further called on the Federal Government to ensure the girls' education and to reunite them with their families.
