NIS urges Jibiya border communities to expose migrant smugglers
By Zubairu Idris
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Jibiya Special Border Command, has begun the sensitisation of border communities against allowing migrant smuggling because of its danger to the victims and national security.
The Comptroller of the command, Mr Haruna Suleiman-Zakirai, said the two-day campaign was specifically to stop the smuggling of migrants to stem transborder crimes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign commenced on Wednesday with the theme “Say no to Migrants Smuggling, if you must migrate, migrate orderly, safely and regularly”.
He warned that migrants going through smugglers could easily fall victim of organ harvest, child labour, prostitution or recruitment by criminal gangs.
Suleiman-Zakirai said that smugglers normally deceive their victims by giving them false information on greener pasture abroad.
“Trafficking is a crime against humanity, it is a network, but we are also equal to the task. Our officers are up-and-doing to protect the citizens from such criminals.
“Anytime we rescue victims, we educate them on the risks associated with the illegal migration they may likely face either on the road or after reaching their destination.
“We then hand them over to NAPTIP for further action and reunion with their families,” the comptroller said.
He therefore advised Nigerians to always obtain valid travel documents whenever they wanted to travel out of the country, and go through recognised border posts to avoid falling into the hands of the smugglers.
Suleiman-Zakirai pointed out that Katsina state has seven recognised border posts and two outposts, namely Jibiya/Magama, Jibiya/Maje, Dankama, Zango, Mai’aduwa, Kongolon and Babban-Mutum, as well as Yardaje and Birnin-Kuka outposts.
The controller said that the Command patrols a 220-kilometer stretch from Jibiya to Babban-Mutum.
He urged border communities to support the immigration service with credible information on movements of irregular immigrants for prompt response.
