Olusegun Ariyo
The Illela Border Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Sokoto State, has arrested a suspected human trafficker, Sirajo Illela, and rescued two female victims bound for Libya.
The comptroller of the command, Tony Akuneme, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Akuneme said that the arrest was made at the suspect’s family residence in Yar Kara area, Illela Local Government on Wednesday, February 12.
According to him, the two victims, Maryam Akinosi, 40, from Ogun State, and Olatunde Abidemi, 26, from Oyo State, were found to be travelling without any valid documents, adding that the preliminary investigations revealed that they were on their way to Libya.
“The suspect, Sirajo Illela, has been on the wanted list of both the Immigration and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for a long time.
“He is known for harbouring and supporting human trafficking through illegal routes in the Illela border,” he said.
The comptroller, while handing over the suspect and victims to NAPTIP, reiterated the commitment of the NIS under the leadership of the Comptroller General, Kemi Nandap to fighting human trafficking and smuggling of migrants in Nigeria.
Speaking, the NAPTIP Commander in Sokoto, Sani Dingyadi, who received the suspect and victims for further investigation and prosecution, thanked the NIS for their collaboration and commitment to fighting human trafficking.
