Immigration Rescues 9 Trafficking Victims

The Nigerian Immigration Service Katsina state command has rescued 9 human trafficking victims and arrested 4 suspected human traffickers in Katsina state.

The state comptroller of the service, Ajisafe Joshua, identified the victims as Obike Blessing Jessica, 36 (Abia); Abokede Adeola, 37 (Oyo); Popoola Emmanuel, 26 (Ogun); Ugho Prosper, 31 (Imo).

Others are: Ibeze Doris, 40 (Edo), Oladide Olakunle, 43 (Osun); Fadairo Olufemi, 38 (Ogun); Oluigbo Michael, 26 (Enugu) and Musaw Farida, 21 (Ogun). He revealed that the victims were rescued at Charanchi Patrol Base checkpoint in the state.

“They started their Journey from Lagos with intention of traveling to Niger Republic to obtain biometric capture for U.S Visa at American Embassy in Niger Republic under the facilitation of one agent named Balogun Taiwo.

The victims were individually recruited by different agents from Lagos and Port Harcourt. These nine rescued suspected victims will be handed over to our Service Headquarters in Abuja for further investigation.”.

The victims said they individually paid N65,000 to their agents for the trip. One of them, Obike, said she took the option after her request for visa was turned down at the USA Embassy in Nigeria.