The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested a suspected human trafficker, Sirajo Illela, and rescued two female victims who were allegedly being trafficked to Libya.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Comptroller of the Illela Border Command, Tony Akuneme, confirmed the arrest, which took place at Illela’s family residence in the Yar Kara area of Illela Local Government Area on February 12.
The rescued victims were identified as 40-year-old Maryam Akinosi from Ogun State and 26-year-old Olatunde Abidemi from Oyo State. Both women were reportedly traveling without valid documents, and preliminary investigations indicated they were being transported to Libya.
According to Akuneme, Illela had been on the wanted list of both the NIS and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for a long time. He was allegedly known for facilitating human trafficking through illegal border routes.
Following the arrest, the suspect and the victims were handed over to NAPTIP for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Reaffirming the NIS’s commitment to tackling human trafficking, Akuneme emphasized that the service, under the leadership of Comptroller General Kemi Nandap, remains dedicated to securing the nation’s borders and bringing traffickers to justice.
A representative of NAPTIP in Sokoto expressed gratitude to the NIS for their cooperation and ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in Nigeria.
