Twenty-four boys used their small bodies every day to dive into the deep water of the lake to untangle nets for their masters. It was dangerous, back-breaking work, made worse by violent abuse, lack of food and sleep. Early in the morning of 24 January, International Justice Mission  and Ghanaian authorities prepared for a rescue operation. Eight boats launched off the shores to look for the boys. A spokesman said, ‘When we found them, most were scared - they didn’t know what was happening.’ As they were pulled into the boats, the Ghanaian commander instructed his unit to arrest the suspected boatmasters, sixteen in all.