The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Ilela border command in Sokoto has detained Rukaya Hassan, 25, for attempting to traffic two minor girls across the border to the Niger Republic.
This was revealed in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the NIS Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Abdullahi.
Abdullahi stated that the victims had been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Human Trafficking for further investigation.
He stated that the action was a quick response to the new Comptroller of Immigration, Mrs. Kemi Nandap’s, morale-boosting demand.
According to him, during interrogation, the young lady from the Giribshi district of Sokoto admitted that she did not know the two young girls she was travelling with to Niger.
“She claimed they were handed over to her by one woman in Sokoto, named Maman Adnan, who paid for their transport to Niger.
“She also claimed the woman requested her to help take the two girls to another woman in Niger, named Amina Yunusa, who will give them jobs in her restaurant in Niamey.”
According to Abdullahi, upon further examination, the two teenagers, Nabila Ibrahim (17) and her sister, Zainab Ibrahim (15), stated that they were from Zuru LGA in Kebbi State.
According to them, they were going to Niger to resume work in a certain restaurant, of which they didn’t know the owner, but their parents approved of their trip.
In response, the Comptroller of the NIS, Ilela Command, Tony Akuneme, who conducted the interviews, urged the NAPTIP, Sokoto State, to take custody of the two victims and the accused trafficker.
This, he claimed, would aid in future inquiries and potential prosecution.
Akuneme emphasised his commitment to continuing the war against migrant smuggling and human trafficking in order to cascade the CG’s efforts.
Akuneme described the Immigration CG as congratulating officers and men from the Ilela border command for their efforts and promising to award excellent staff.
