The Borno State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has successfully intercepted an individual suspected of human trafficking while rescuing 59 victims who were en route to N’Djamena through the border between Nigeria and Chad.
The suspect, Ismaila Alhassan, a resident of Katsina State, was detained by NIS officials as he traveled without legitimate passports or other necessary travel documents.
MT Musa, the Comptroller of NIS in Borno, spoke about the arrest during a press briefing held on Tuesday at the Service headquarters located in Maiduguri. He reported that all the rescued individuals are females, also hailing from Katsina State.
The Comptroller further revealed that the suspect was apprehended thanks to a community intelligence network established by the NIS in border regions.
"Upon commencement of my duties, I visited Banki, Gambarou, and several border communities where I fostered better relationships with local residents. We utilized these connections to expose the trafficker and save the victims," he stated.
The origin of the victims' journey was Katsina, where they intended to pass through Maiduguri to reach the Gambarou border and cross into Chad without the necessary travel documents.
Investigations indicated that the suspect had deceived the victims with false job offers in Chad and advised against undertaking such perilous journeys, noting that human trafficking, organ harvesting, and various degrees of exploitation are widespread.
The Comptroller confirmed the Service's commitment to restoring critical checkpoints aimed at preventing human trafficking and related violations before such individuals arrive at border points.
He concluded by stating that both the suspect and the rescued victims would be transferred to the zonal office of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for comprehensive investigation and appropriate actions.
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