By Deborah Nnamdi
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Illela Border Command, has arrested a suspected human trafficker, Sirajo Illela, and rescued two female victims who were allegedly being smuggled to Libya.
The arrest was made at Illela’s family residence in the Yar Kara area of Illela Local Government Area of the State on Wednesday, February 12.
The Comptroller of the Command, Mr. Tony Akuneme, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Mohammed, in Abuja.
According to Akuneme, the victims—Maryam Akinosi, 40, from Ogun State, and Olatunde Abidemi, 26, from Oyo State—were found without valid travel documents, which confirmed their suspicion that they were being trafficked.
Akuneme noted that preliminary investigations revealed that they were en route to Libya, a common destination for illegal migration and human trafficking.
“The suspect, Sirajo Illela, has been on the wanted list of both the Immigration and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for a long time. He is known for harboring and facilitating human trafficking through illegal routes at the Illela border,” Akuneme stated.
While handing over the suspect and victims to NAPTIP for further investigation and prosecution, Akuneme reaffirmed the NIS’s commitment to tackling human trafficking and illegal migration.
“We are committed to ensuring that our borders are secured and that those who engage in illegal activities, such as human trafficking, are brought to justice,” he said.
The NAPTIP Commander in Sokoto, who received the suspect and victims, commended the NIS for its dedication to combating human trafficking.
The agency pledged to continue working closely with law enforcement to dismantle trafficking networks across Nigeria.
It urged citizens to be vigilant and report suspicious activities to help curb this menace, where thousands of victims are being smuggled abroad under false promises of employment and better opportunities.
