Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading airline, has successfully repatriated 78 Nigerian women who were victims of human trafficking from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, back to the country—completely free of charge.
The rescue mission, carried out on Saturday using a Boeing 737 aircraft (registration 5N-BQV), departed Lagos at 2:14 p.m. and returned the same day at 10:46 p.m. The women, many of whom had been deceived and lured into exploitative conditions, were flown home as part of a humanitarian initiative led by the airline’s Chairman and CEO, Dr. Allen Onyema.
In April, Dr. Onyema had publicly pledged to assist in their repatriation and went beyond the promise by offering not just transport but also medical and psychosocial support for the returnees.
“Human trafficking is a stain on our shared humanity,” Onyema said as the women disembarked in Lagos. “As a people-centric airline, we could not turn a blind eye to the suffering of our fellow citizens abroad. Patriotism and love for humanity must inspire action.”
The operation was made possible through a partnership between Air Peace, the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, and the Nigerian community in Côte d’Ivoire. These partners worked together to identify, document, and clear the victims for travel.
Chief Michael Emeka Onwuchelu, President of the Nigerian Community in Côte d’Ivoire, described the mission as life-changing: “What Dr. Onyema has done goes beyond corporate responsibility—it’s divine intervention. This flight was a miracle for these women.”
Paul Obi, a senior official at the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, highlighted the challenges faced during the operation. “Many of these women were undocumented and living in distressing conditions. The support from Air Peace turned a difficult task into a successful mission and restored hope to many.”
This latest effort adds to Air Peace’s growing record of humanitarian interventions. In previous years, the airline has flown stranded Nigerians home from South Africa during xenophobic attacks (2019), the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), the Russia-Ukraine conflict (2022), and the Sudan crisis (2023).
“We’re not just in the business of flying aircraft; we’re committed to lifting lives,” Dr. Onyema said. “Whenever Nigerians are in distress—whether in Africa or elsewhere Air Peace will always answer the call.”
This act of compassion by Air Peace further redefines corporate social responsibility in Nigeria’s aviation industry, setting a high standard for leadership and humanitarian commitment.
Edited by Nzubechukwu Eze.
