The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Jigawa Command, has rescued 10 individuals believed to be victims of human trafficking in Babura Local Government Area of the state.
The Comptroller of the NIS, Mr. Tahir Musa, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Dutse, revealing that the victims were intercepted on Sunday at Tsamiyar Kwance, a transit hub near the border with the Niger Republic.
According to Musa, the command’s Operation Salama team intercepted the group at around 1:00 p.m. as they attempted to cross into Niger en route to Europe via Libya.
The victims, aged between 21 and 30, included two males and eight females. Their origins span several Nigerian states, with six hailing from Ogun, two from Ondo, and one each from Oyo and Imo.
“Upon their interception at Tsamiyar Kwance and subsequent profiling and interrogation, they confessed that they were moved from different locations to Kano State and then to Babura, with the aim of reaching the Niger Republic and eventually Libya,” Musa explained.
He further revealed that the victims had plans to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Libya in pursuit of a better life in Europe.
Musa used the opportunity to urge parents and guardians to exercise greater vigilance in guiding their children, cautioning against falling prey to traffickers who lure victims with false promises of prosperity abroad.
The Comptroller also commended the NIS Comptroller-General, Mrs. Kemi Nandap, for her commitment to combating human trafficking and irregular migration. He noted that her leadership, bolstered by the support of the Jigawa State Government, has strengthened efforts to curb the menace in the region.
The rescued victims have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and rehabilitation.
This incident underscores the ongoing efforts of Nigerian authorities to dismantle human trafficking networks and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.