Razaq Bamidele
Luck ran against 24 suspected human traffickers just as reprieve came the way of their victims who are mainly minors in Ogun State, on Thursday, as men and officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) rescued them from their abductors heading to Benin Republic.
The apprehended suspects, according to the service were 14 Togolese and 10 Nigerians, who it said were moving towards Ajilete and Ilase in Ogun State, thereby breaking the orders of the Federal Government on land border closure.
An impressed Comptroller General of the NIS, Muhammad Babandede, gave his officers and men kudos for being vigilant, gallant and professional, just as he charged them to be courageous and continue to comb all illegal points created by smugglers by increasing the tempo of patrol.
National Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Deputy Comptroller Sunday James, who confirmed the development through a press statement explained that the arrests were made by officers of the Ogun State NIS Command led by Comptroller Kunle Osisanya.
Details of the profiling of those apprehended after documentation according to the medical procedures of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) given by Osisanya included 14 Togolese comprising eight female adults and minors intercepted in a J5 bus at Ajilete.
James added that all had been subjected to Covid-19 tests.
Apart from this, 10 other Nigerians were arrested at Ilase town within the state for also violating directive against movement across the land borders.
James confirmed that indications emerged after interrogation that five of out of those nabbed were victims of human trafficking, explaining that they would be handed over to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) for further engagement.
