BREAKING: Air Peace Rescues 78 Trafficked Nigerian Women in Heroic Evacuation from Côte d’Ivoire
In a powerful demonstration of humanitarian commitment and national solidarity, Nigeria’s leading airline, Air Peace Limited, undertook a historic evacuation mission on Saturday, flying 78 trafficked Nigerian women back home from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, free of charge.
The rescue operation, executed aboard the airline’s Boeing 737 aircraft (registration 5N-BQV), departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 14:14hrs and returned safely at 22:46hrs. The women on board had been victims of human trafficking, many lured into exploitative conditions under false pretenses.
This remarkable intervention was inspired and driven by Dr. Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, renowned for his unwavering patriotism and selfless public service.
In April, Dr. Onyema had pledged to repatriate the women at no cost, a promise he fulfilled with not only transportation but also an offer of medical and psychosocial support for the victims.
“Human trafficking is a blight on our shared humanity. As an airline of the people, we cannot stand by while Nigerians suffer abroad,” Onyema said emotionally as the women disembarked in Lagos. “Love for country and for humanity must compel action.”
The rescue was the result of collaboration between Air Peace, the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, and the Nigerian Community in Côte d’Ivoire, ensuring the women were identified, documented, and cleared for travel.
Chief Michael Emeka Onwuchelu, President of the Nigerian Community in Côte d’Ivoire, praised the mission:
“What Dr. Onyema has done is beyond CSR—it is godly. For these women, this flight was a miracle. At a time when many look away, Air Peace chose to act. The Nigerian community here is eternally grateful.”
Paul Obi, a senior officer at the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, emphasised the urgency and complexity of the mission:
“It was a race against time. Many of these ladies were undocumented, exposed to abuse, and in dire conditions. This act by Air Peace and its Chairman has restored dignity and hope. We encountered many diplomatic and logistical hurdles, but the airline’s support made this rescue achievable.”
This operation marks yet another chapter in Dr. Onyema’s growing legacy of emergency interventions. In 2019, he airlifted over 500 Nigerians from South Africa during xenophobic attacks. His aircraft also repatriated citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine-Russia crisis in 2022, and the Sudan conflict in 2023.
“We will continue to stand in the gap when Nigerians are in distress, whether in Africa or beyond. We’re not just about flying aircraft; we’re about lifting lives. Our aircraft will always be available for noble causes. The suffering of our people anywhere in the world should concern us all.”
Air Peace’s latest humanitarian act not only showcases its operational capabilities but also redefines corporate social responsibility in Nigeria’s aviation industry, setting a gold standard for leadership, empathy, and action in times of crisis.