The Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, Lagos Border Patrol Command at Seme in Badagry, has intercepted a six month-old baby and three others, suspected to be victims of human trafficking.
Comptroller Peter Adache, the Controller of the command, who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Badagry on Friday, July 26, 2024, said the victims were intercepted with their traffickers, a couple, on Monday around 1.30.p.m, along Kankon Owode Road in Badagry
According to Adache, they were travelling to Burkina Faso, through Republic of Benin, without any relevant documents.
“None of them was in possession of any travel documents, when they were intercepted at Owode Border,” he said.
Adache said that during interrogation, it was revealed that one of suspected traffickers ,who is a food vendor and citizen of Burkina Faso, lured the victims to travel with her to the country
“The three ladies decided to follow her because she promised to give them good jobs and good salaries.
“She called her husband, who is a citizen of Benin Republic and they arranged how to transport the three ladies and the child to Burkina Faso.
“The traveling expenses and feeding for the 6 persons were paid by the couple,” he said.
The comptroller said that the victims would be handed over to National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, to help reunite them with their families.
“It is a painful situation and under this situation we cannot in any way look away. I have been directed by the Assistant Controller General of Immigration in charge of Zone A to hand them over to NAPTIP
“The Lagos Border Patrol command of NIS will continue to ensure compliance to immigration rules and regulations and equally ensure protection of Nigerians and reintegration of victims to their families
“One of the suspected victim(name withheld), who is a mother of six-month-old child, said she and child were abandoned by her husband, hence her decision to travel with the couple to survive hardship.
“Shortly after I delivered my child, my husband left me alone to take care of the child.
“Since there is no help from any quarters, when she (suspected trafficker, approached me to go to Burkina Faso, I agreed because she said I will make money and do good jobs there
“The journey had been tedious until we were arrested by immigration officers, I want to go back home,” she said.
Suspected victims of human trafficking were later handed over to Ibraheem Ogunbiyi, the Assistant Director and Head, Counseling and Rehabilitation Unit of NAPTIP, Lagos Zonal Command.
Mr Ogunbiyi, represented Comfort Agboko, the NAPTIP, Zonal Commander, Lagos Zonal Command.