By Publisher
The Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, has arrested one Rukaya Hassan for attempting to traffick two underage girls across the border to Niger Republic.
Mohammed Abdullahi, the Command’s spokesperson disclosed in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja that operatives of NIS attached to Ilela border command Sokoto have arrested the 25 year-old suspect.
He added that the rescued victims had been handed over to the National Agency For Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for further investigations.
He further revealed that the suspect, who resides in Giribshi area of Sokoto confessed to the crime, adding that she did not know the two young girls she was traveling with to Niger.
Abdulahi said: “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.”
The command spokesperson also said the two victims were siblings, Nabila Ibrahim, 17 years old, and her sister, Zainab Ibrahim, aged 15 years.
The victims revealed that they hailed from Zuru LGA in Kebbi State.
“According to them, they were going to Niger to resume work in a certain restaurant, which they didn’t know the owner of but that their parents approved of their trip,” Abdulahi added.
He credited the success of the operation to the morale-boosting charge of the new Comptroller of Immigration, CGI, Mrs Kemi Nandap.
She lauded the operatives of the Ilela border command for their exploits, promising to reward outstanding personnel.
On his part, Tony Akuneme, the Comptroller of Immigration, Ilela Command, invited the NAPTIP, Sokoto State, to take charge of the two victims and the suspected trafficker, saying it would help further investigation and possible prosecution.
Akuneme restated commitment to sustaining the campaign against Smuggling of Migrants, SOM, and Trafficking in Persons, TIPs, in accordance with the wishes of the CG.
