Three victims of human trafficking from Delta and Benue States have been arrested in Kebbi while allegedly on their way to Libya by operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have handed over to NAPTIP.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that two of the victims, aged 19 and 24 are females from Delta state and a male from Benue state, were travelling to Sokoto when they were intercepted by immigration border personnel in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi.
According to the Comptroller of the NIS in the state, Mrs Rabi Bashir Nuhu, as you know, we have been fighting the human trafficking problem; and despite our efforts, it seems not to have stopped. Even last two weeks, we had made similar arrests.
“The victims were arrested while on transit to Libya en route Yauri to Sokoto.
“The two female victims named, Rosebeth Ud, 24, and Benita Audaje,19, were promised domestic jobs in Libya with monthly salaries of N130,000.
” Benita has an aunty living in Libya called Sandra who will facilitate her stay there. Resebeth has finished writing her National Diploma Examination (NDE) while Benita has SSCE, all are waiting for their results.
“On the other hand, the male victim, Yoko Jiji by name, was recruited by Uncle Owudi living in Libya who promised him a job, not specified, with a monthly pay of N100,000, and he is SS 3 drop out.
“They had been asked to conduct HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis tests and they said it was their sisters who insisted that they must conduct the tests before they come to Libya,” she said.
Nuhu wondered why Nigerian youths would go to Libya for work despite the security challenges therein.
“We have to apply Pact 10 and 11 of the Immigration Act 2015, receive them and hand them over to NAPTIP,” she said.
The comptroller assured that NIS would not allow any suspicious character or person profiting from human trafficking to pass its net in the state.
In their response, the female victims confirmed that they were going to Libya upon their sisters’ invitation to come and secure house help and saloon work for them.
“My uncle, who is living in Libya said I should come and join him to secure me a job there, ” the male victim confirmed.
Receiving the victims, the Head of Operation of NAPTIP in the state, Alhaji Sadiq Atiku, said that the agency would undertake a thorough investigation of the matter.
“We thank NIS for making our job easier and we are going to investigate thoroughly.
“We are going to rehabilitate and counsel the victim and ensure that she is united with her parents or guardians,” he said.
Atiku commended NIS for collaborating with the agency to eradicate human trafficking in the country.