The Government of Sierra Leone has been urged to urgently intervene to assist more than 150 nationals reportedly stranded in Liberia after allegedly being lured across the border with false promises of lucrative jobs and scholarships.
The appeal was made by the Liberia Anti-Trafficking, Anti-Scam & Victim Support Initiative (LATSVSI), which said it was in contact with the affected Sierra Leoneans, most of whom are young people currently stranded in Montserrado County.
Zokerseh B. Saye, Executive Director of LATSVSI, said his team identified thousands of foreign nationals, including Sierra Leoneans, during recent outreach operations. He alleged that many had been brought to Liberia under false pretences, adding that the number of reported cases continued to rise as new victims were identified.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Saye called on the Sierra Leonean government and its Embassy in Monrovia to take urgent action to establish the identities of the affected nationals, assess their circumstances and facilitate their safe and voluntary return.
He said LATSVSI had made several attempts to contact the Sierra Leonean Embassy through official letters and telephone calls but had yet to receive a response, leaving the affected nationals without the consular assistance the organisation was seeking.
The organisation has specifically urged the government to dispatch consular officers to its office at 14th Street, Sinkor, Monrovia, to verify the identities of the Sierra Leoneans and coordinate with Liberian authorities on arrangements for their return.
LATSVSI also called for stronger cooperation between the two governments to prevent further cases of trafficking and protect Sierra Leoneans from fraudulent recruitment schemes.
The reported incident highlights growing concerns about the exploitation of young Sierra Leoneans through fake employment opportunities, scholarship offers and online schemes circulated on platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp. Similar schemes have reportedly affected Sierra Leoneans in other West African countries, including Guinea and Ghana.
Families who suspect that their relatives may be among those affected have been advised to contact Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Freetown or LATSVSI on +231 8818 24711] or mailto:[email protected] for assistance with verification.
As of the time of publication, Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and its Embassy in Monrovia had not publicly responded to the appeal.
The reported number of affected Sierra Leoneans and the circumstances surrounding their alleged trafficking have yet to be independently verified.