The Seme Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said it has intercepted six persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking along Kankon-Owode Road, in Badagry, Lagos.
The Controller, Seme Command of NIS, Comptroller Abdullahi Adamu, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Seme-Krape office, Badagry, Lagos.
Adamu said that the suspected victims were intercepted by combined efforts of men of the Nigeria Air Force, 653 Ahanve, Badagry; and men of immigration on patrol along the road.
According to the controller, the persons were traveling to Ghana from Badagry at about 1.30.a.m when they were intercepted.
“The six victims of human trafficking were intercepted by combined team of Nigeria Air force and our patrol men along Owode border.
“They were on their way to Ghana when they were stopped by the men of Nigeria Air Force and our men were invited, so stepped in and evacuated them from where they were.
“They are four young men and two ladies, one of the ladies is from Enugu state while other is from Kogi State.
“Two drivers and a 43-year-old Ghanaian suspected to be the trafficker were also arrested with them,” he said.
Adamu said that they were traveling without valid documents to Ghana.
He urged parents to always know the movement of their children, adding that they should also ensure they had relevant documents before traveling.
“Though of one of the ladies told me this morning that her mother knew about her journey and even prayed for her but I think that prayer has not been answered.
“God has averted that prayer, immigration too averted those prayers,” he said
He, however, said they would be handed over to officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), from where they would find their way back to their different destinations.
The controller said that NIS was working with sister agencies at the border post to stop human traffickers.
Adamu said the operation was a testament to the commitment of the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nana, in combating smuggling of migrants, human trafficking, and the protection of vulnerable migrants.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Seme Command of NIS on July 20 received 66 trafficked Nigerians from Ghana, 59 women and seven children.
Adamu said the rescue efforts were in collaboration with the High Commissioner in Ghana.
NAN also reports that on July 22, the Lagos Border Patrol Command of NIS, at Seme, in Badagry, intercepted a six month-old baby and three other children suspected to be victims of human trafficking.
Comptroller Peter Adache, the Controller of the Command ,who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Badagry on Friday, said the victims were intercepted with their traffickers – a couple.
Adache said the victims were intercepted by operatives on Monday around 1.30.p.m., along Kankon Owode Road in Badagry. (NAN)
