Thirty-nine Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who fell victim to human trafficking in Lagos, Nigeria, are finally back in the Philippines after being rescued through government efforts. Their return fulfills President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to prioritize the safety and welfare of distressed Filipinos abroad.
The group arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Sunday, August 18, aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR932. Another OFW, a mother who recently gave birth while in Nigerian custody, will remain in Lagos until she is fit to travel.
The workers were among those arrested during a December 2024 raid by Nigerian authorities on alleged cryptocurrency and romance scam hubs. Initially promised jobs as customer service representatives with a $1,000 monthly salary and free housing, they were instead forced into online scam operations, had their passports confiscated, and endured abusive conditions.
With assistance from the Philippine Embassy in Abuja and the Honorary Consulate in Lagos, the OFWs entered a plea bargaining process that sped up their release. A joint mission by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and embassy officials on August 17 paved the way for their repatriation.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and members of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, led by Chairperson Rep. Bryan Revilla, personally welcomed the group. Each repatriated OFW received ₱50,000 from the DMW’s Aksyon Fund, temporary shelter through OWWA, and immediate medical and psychosocial care. They will also be endorsed to their respective local governments for further support and reintegration programs.
“It is the directive of our President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that you be able to start anew, and it is our duty at the DMW to strengthen your courage and resilience to begin again,” Cacdac said.
The DMW urged Filipinos to remain vigilant against suspicious overseas job offers and to immediately report questionable recruitment activities to avoid falling victim to human trafficking.
