Immigration Service Rescues 59 Trafficked Women, Children in Borno-Chad Border
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rescued 59 women and children from an attempted human trafficking operation en route from Katsina State to N’Djamena, the capital of the Republic of Chad.
The Borno State Comptroller of Immigration, Muktari Tanimu Musa, disclosed the development on Tuesday in Maiduguri, saying the victims were intercepted at Ngamboru, a key border community near Nigeria’s frontier with Cameroon.
According to Musa, the group was travelling in the company of a suspected trafficking agent who allegedly lured them with promises of well-paying jobs in Chad.
“Preliminary interviews revealed that the individuals were being trafficked. The agent deceived them with false employment opportunities, and many of the victims were unaware of the dangers and risks involved,” he said.
The comptroller explained that the command had intensified surveillance and patrols along the Maiduguri–Ngala axis as part of broader efforts, in collaboration with the Borno State Government, to strengthen border security and disrupt trafficking routes through the corridor.
Read Also:
He cautioned Nigerians to be wary of individuals offering overseas job opportunities, particularly those advertising so-called white-collar employment abroad, stressing that legitimate and viable job opportunities exist within the country.
Musa warned that traffickers often exploit victims for various criminal activities, including forced labour and other illicit practices, noting that such networks sometimes operate with the support of local collaborators.
“These activities can be aided by some members of the community. However, recent successes were achieved through stronger collaboration with transport operators, drug control officers, and community leaders in Banki and Ngamboru Ngala,” he said.
He added that he had personally visited several border communities to engage local government chairmen and key stakeholders, urging them to provide timely intelligence to security agencies.
The NIS said the rescued victims have been profiled and will be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and rehabilitation.
Musa also appealed to media organisations to support public sensitisation efforts.
“The media play a critical role in educating communities about the dangers of irregular migration and human trafficking. Their partnership is essential in preventing more people from falling victim,” he said.
By PRNigeria
