NSCDC rescues ‘10 victims’ of human trafficking
• NAPTIP receives 51 rescued victims
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abuja has rescued 10 suspected victims of human trafficking.
The said the victims were being allegedly sponsored abroad as illegal migrants by a yet-to-be identified person.
They were accosted at Zuba Motor Park by officers of the command, following a tip off on their return from Minna, Niger State, where they had gone to process their International passports.
A statement by the spokesperson, Samuel Idoko, said the victims were aged between 24 and 34 years, one male and nine females. They all hail from Ondo State.
Idoko said investigation revealed that each person paid N80,000 to facilitate the procurement of their passports. They also confessed to being promised migration abroad to undertake ready-made jobs, especially in North Africa and Canada by sponsor who resides in Okitipupa, Ondo State.
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NSCDC Commandant Olusola Odumosu, while handing them over to the Nigeria Agency for the prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP), warned Nigerians on the dangers of illegal migration.
“Be careful of the types of people that promise you a better future abroad, don’t be desperate because some of them end up ruining your lives. They deceive you and collect huge money from you that there are ready made jobs, whereas, you may end up in slavery or forced to become sex workers.
“If you must travel abroad, follow the right channel that’ll give you rest of mind, don’t allow somebody to seize your international passport abroad, and place you under an oath that you’ll regret,” he warned.
The Kano Zonal Command of NAPTIP has received 51 rescued victims of human trafficking.
Zonal Commander Abdullahi Babale stated this yesterday when the rescued persons were handed over by the Kano State Hisbah Board.
According to him, NAPTIP operatives arrested two suspects in connection with the trafficking. Rescued persons are aged between 18 and 50, comprising 49 females and two males.
He added: “The victims were rescued on April 21 at Hotoro Motor Park by the State Hisbah Board on their way to Cote d’Voire, to secure visa to travel to Saudi Arabia for labour exploitation.
“Of the 51 victims, two are from Niger Republic, while others are from Kano, Katsina, Yobe and Jigawa states.
“Investigation is ongoing and the suspects would be charged to court. The rescued victims would be counselled and rehabilitated before reuniting them with their families.”