Immigration rescues three victims of human trafficking in Jigawa

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it has rescued three victims of human trafficking in Jigawa.

The NIS Comptroller in the state, Mr Samson Agada, said this at a news conference in Dutse on Wednesday.

He said personnel of the service intercepted the victims on Tuesday at about 11:00 a.m. at the Tsamiyar Ilu checkpoint in Kazaure Local Government Area of the state.

Agada said the victims, who are indigenes of Kogi, include Ahmed Ibrahim, 25, Ibrahim Rafatu, 17, and Nafisat Jibril, 32, adding that they were apprehended alongside a suspected trafficker, Mustapha Zulqarlaini.

“Upon their interception and subsequent profiling and interrogation, the victims confessed that they were on their way to Daura area of Katsina State.

“They will then cross the Nigerian border to Niger Republic for their onward destination in Libya.

“Upon further interrogation, they confessed that they have a sister who is residing in Libya and intended to join her.

“The suspected trafficker, Zulqarlaini, claimed to be an uncle of the victims and confirmed that he facilitated their journey from Kano to Daura,” he said.

The comptroller added that when contacted by the service, the victims’ parents gave their consent to the journey based on abject poverty.

“They are victims of human trafficking, and as such, we are handing them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).”

Agada urged parents and guardians to monitor their wards to protect them against falling prey to traffickers.