Immigration intercepts 8 victims of human trafficking

The Nigerian Immigration Service, (NIS) Sokoto state command said it had intercepted eight victims of human trafficking who were on their way to Libya.

The Comptroller of NIS in the state, Alhaji Habibu Haruna, showed the victims to newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday.

He later handed them over to the National Agency for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Haruna said that the officers of the command intercepted the victims in a bus travelling from Zaria to Sokoto en route Libya.

“Our men tried to contact their agents but there was no any response. As such, we have to bring them here and contact their families.

“We will hand them over to NAPTIP to be reoriented and take them back to their parents, as they are not criminals, but citizens of this country,” he said.

Haruna said that three of the victims were from the same family from Delta, while the other five were from Anambra, heading for same destination.

He called on parents to always monitor the movement of their children to prevent them from being victims of trafficking and other antisocial activities.

Responding, a spokesman of the victims, name withheld, said, “We have been invited to go to Libya by our sister, who promised us of so many job opportunities there.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that victims are between 18 and 25 years.