The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has successfully rescued a group of 18 individuals who were believed to be victims of human trafficking in Kano. According to A.T. Yayaji, the NIS Assistant Comptroller in the state, the rescue operation was carried out on April 26th at Zaria Road and Kurna/Rijiyar Lemo along Kano-Katsina Road. The NIS personnel had acted on an intelligence report received, which suggested that there was an unusual suspected movement of migrant smuggling.
The 18 individuals, consisting of 4 males and 14 females aged between 21 and 43, were on their way to Libya through Niger Republic in search of better prospects, when they were intercepted. None of the victims had any travel documents, indicating that their attempt to cross the border was illegal.
The victims, who are from various states in Nigeria including Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Enugu, Lagos, and Delta, were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) after the rescue operation. They will undergo counselling and will be reunited with their families.
Yayaji has called on residents of the state to report cases of trafficking and other related criminal acts to relevant authorities. He also advised parents to avoid sending their children to other countries to seek greener pastures in order to protect them against the dangers of slavery, organ harvesting, and other related crimes.
Human trafficking has been a major issue in Nigeria, with many people being trafficked to countries like Libya, Italy, and Saudi Arabia. The government has been working with various agencies to combat the menace, and rescue and rehabilitate victims, while also prosecuting perpetrators of the crime.