The Nigeria Immigration Service has rescued 18 suspected victims of human trafficking in the Kano metropolis.
The victims aged between 21 and 43, comprising four males and 14 females were intercepted while on their way to Libya through Niger Republic for greener pasture.
NIS Assistant Comptroller in the state, A T Yayaji, said personnel of the service rescued the victims on April 26, at about 1:30 p.m. at Zaria Road and Kurna/Rijiyar Lemo along Kano-Katsina Road.
Yayaji said;
“The victims were rescued by officers and men of Operation Squad (ANTI-SOM) Unit following an intelligent report received of an unusual suspected movement of migrant smuggling.
“None of the victims had any travel documents and it is a clear attempt of an illegal border crossing.”
The NIS Assistant Comptroller further revealed that the victims from Edo, Ogun, Oyo,Ondo, Enugu,Lagos and Delta States, have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to be reunited with their families after counseling.
