The Nigeria Immigration Service has handed over an 18-year-old human trafficking victim to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in Kebbi State.
The Controller of the NIS in Kebbi State, Rabi Bashir-Nuhu, handed over the Libya-bound victims to NAPTIP on Friday.
Bashir-Nuhu said: “The girl, who is from Oyo State, was arrested on Thursday on her way to Libya via Yauri and Sokoto.
“She said her name is Wasilat Yusuf and she was going to Libya on her sister’s invitation and assurance of a cleaning job.
“She has a HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis test results with her.
“She said it was her sister who insisted that she must conduct the tests before leaving for Libya.”
Bashir-Nuhu wondered why in spite of all the opportunities that abound in terms of peace and security in Nigeria, anyone would go to Libya to work in spite of the security challenges in that country.
The Comptroller assured that the NIS would not allow any suspicious character or person profiting from human trafficking to get through its net in Kebbi State.
Wasilat confirmed to newsmen that she was going to Libya to get a cleaning job on her sister’s invitation.
She said: “My sister is Biodun Yusuf, and she is living in Libya and sells clothes there.
“She invited me to come and get a cleaning job there.”
Receiving the victim, Head of Operation of NAPTIP in Kebbi State, Alhaji Sadiq Atiku, said the agency would undertake thorough investigation of the matter.
Atiku said: “We thank the NIS for making our job easier and we are going to investigate thoroughly.
“We are going to rehabilitate and counsel the victim and ensure that she is united with her parents or guardians.”
Atiku also commended the NIS for collaborating with NAPTIP to eradicate human trafficking.
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