Mohammed Babandede, CG, NIS

The Oyo State Command of Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has rescued 131 children from child traffickers in the last four months.

Disclosing this in Ibadan, the Oyo State Comptroller, Mrs. Victoria Isangedighi said that 56  out of the rescued children have been reunited to their parents.

She added that the children who were victims of child trafficking by people from within the country and foreigners alike, were rescued through the intelligence and surveillance effort of men of the Command.

Isangedighi explained that not less than 75 of the rescued children are minors who were suspected to have been lured from their parents by unsuspecting relatives for the purpose of using the children for child labour both within and outside the country.

She further disclosed that from February till date, 144 traffickers have also been nabbed. The culprits include 75 Nigerians and 69 non-Nigerians.

Her words, “We have arrested about 144 traffickers since February. Out of this figure, 75 of them are Nigerians while the remaining 69 are non-Nigerians. Also, 131 children have been rescued from various human traffickers.  75 of them are minors while the remaining 56 have been reunited with their parents because they are Nigerian”.

Isangedighi said that 12 of the cases that require further investigation and probably prosecution has been transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other related Matters (NAPTIP).

She further explained that the Command has registered up to 7,300 foreigners who have shown interest in staying within the jurisdiction of the command from neighbouring West African countries in the past two months.

The Command, she said, has also apprehended over 2,000 illegal immigrants who came into the country with either fake or invalid documents.

She commended gallant and intelligent officers of the border corps of the Command who have been arresting and repatriating illegal immigrants in the face of the security challenges facing the country

While enumerating efforts to ensure more effective and efficient service delivery to the large number of people who throng the state Command, especially to apply for their international passport, the state Immigration boss appeal to prospective applicants not to patronise touts and unsuspecting fraudsters while seeking the service of the Command.

She noted that the Command is currently undergoing massive facelift to ensure a more conducive and comfortable place for  applicants.

She further explained that a VIP waiting section is to be created soon to accommodate dignitaries, senior citizens and the elderly who might want to seek the service of the Command.