Human trafficking: Group lauds Immigration on arrest of 9 girls .Calls for enlightenment in rural communities

Human trafficking: Group lauds Immigration on arrest of 9 girls

.Calls for enlightenment in rural communities

By Udeme Clement and Agency News:

Some human right groups in the country have commended the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, for its timely intervention on the arrest of nine girls, who were to be trafficked through the Murtala Muhammed Airport to Lebanon, Cairo, Dubai and India.

The groups during interaction with the Media, on the dangers of human trafficking said that the intervention of NIS prevented the young girls from being sold into slavery.

They lamented that most victims of human trafficking are young girls from rural communities, who do not understand the dangers associated with this deadly venture.  

They called for more enlightenment programmes on the dangers of human trafficking in rural areas.

Recall that the NIS spokesman, Mr Sunday James, revealed that the nine girls were set to board Ethiopian, Peace, Egypt and East Airlines, before they were arrested at the airport.

During questioning, four of them claimed they were travelling to take up jobs without even knowing who their employers were. Also, they could not explain the nature of jobs they were travelling for.

More so, two of the girls said they were going for a visit but later confessed that they were going to “hustle in Dubai”.  The remaining of them said they were going to India for medical treatment but had no referrals for such treatment.”

NIS disclosed that the trip was arranged by agents with the intention of exploiting the ignorance of the girls.”

The NIS statement, “Considering the fact that the nine girls had no credible mission for embarking on the failed journey, they were refused departure, in order to save their lives and dignity.

“Parents should be wary of juicy offers by family members and non-family members to take their children abroad.”