On Monday, July 26, 2024, the Lagos Border Patrol Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) at Seme in Badagry intercepted a group of four individuals, including a six-month-old baby, suspected to be victims of human trafficking.
Comptroller Peter Adache, Controller of the command, reported that the group was stopped at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Kankon Owode Road in Badagry while traveling towards Burkina Faso via the Republic of Benin. None of the individuals were carrying valid travel documents.
He said: “None of them was in possession of any travel documents, when they were intercepted at Owode Border.”
Adache explained that the suspected traffickers, a couple, were transporting the victims.
The woman, a food vendor from Burkina Faso, had enticed the three adult women with promises of good employment and high wages. She had coordinated with her husband, a Benin Republic citizen, to facilitate their travel. The couple covered all expenses related to the journey, including travel and food for the group.
He said: “The three ladies decided to follow her because she promised to give them good jobs and good salaries. She called her husband, who is a citizen of Benin Republic and they arranged how to transport the three ladies and the child to Burkina Faso.
“The traveling expenses and feeding for the 6 persons were paid by the couple.”
During questioning, one of the adult women, who is the mother of the infant, revealed that she had been abandoned by her husband and agreed to travel with the couple in hopes of finding better opportunities. She expressed her desire to return home after the ordeal.
She said: “Shortly after I delivered my child, my husband left me alone to take care of the child.
“Since there is no help from any quarters, when she (suspected trafficker), approached me to go to Burkina Faso, I agreed because she said I will make money and do good jobs there
“The journey had been tedious until we were arrested by immigration officers. I want to go back home.”
The victims have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further assistance and reunification with their families.
He said: “It is a painful situation and under this situation we cannot in any way look away. I have been directed by the Assistant Controller General of Immigration in charge of Zone A to hand them over to NAPTIP
“The Lagos Border Patrol command of NIS will continue to ensure compliance to immigration rules and regulations and equally ensure protection of Nigerians and reintegration of victims to their families
Ibraheem Ogunbiyi, Assistant Director and Head of the Counseling and Rehabilitation Unit at NAPTIP’s Lagos Zonal Command, received the victims on behalf of NAPTIP Zonal Commander Comfort Agboko.
