By Ibironke Ariyo
The Nigeria Immigration Service, Illela Border Command, Sokoto State, has apprehended two female victims of human trafficking heading for Algeria, through Niger Republic.
The Immigration Controller in charge of Illela Border Command, Tony Akuneme, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
Akuneme said the victims, named Vivian Chigozie and Miracle Felix, were handed over to the National Agency for the Prevention of Human Trafficking (NAPTIP) in Sokoto State.
He said the victims were intercepted at Tureta checkpoint on the Sokoto-Zamfara border following a tip-off by NAPTIP agents in Sokoto.
“Upon interrogation, it emerged that the two girls, aged 18 and 19, were from Enugu State.
“They were on their way to Algeria through Illela border without travel documents when they were arrested,” he said.
Akuneme reiterated the commitment of the NIS under the leadership of Kemi Nandap, the Controller General, in the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling across Nigerian borders.
He also assured that the NIS would continue to work with NAPTIP and all other sister security agencies to combat the menace of human trafficking.
In his response, the NAPTIP Commander of Sokoto State, who received the NIS victims, Mr. Abubakar Tabra, thanked the Comptroller General and his officials for their vigilance.
Tabra also commended them for their continued cooperation with NAPTIP in the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
