The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Ilela border command in Sokoto, arrested Rukaya Hassan, 25, for trying to traffic two underage girls to Niger Republic.
This was confirmed by Mohammed Abdullahi, the Command Public Relations Officer, in a statement from Abuja on Tuesday.
Abdullahi explained that the girls were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation.
The operation was prompted by the directive of the new Comptroller of Immigration, Kemi Nandap.
During questioning, Hassan, who lives in Sokoto’s Giribshi area, admitted she didn’t know the girls.
“She claimed they were handed over to her by one woman in Sokoto, named Maman Adnan who paid for their transport to Niger.
“She also claimed the woman requested her to help take the two girls to another woman in Niger, named Amina Yunusa who will give them jobs in her restaurant in Niamey,” Abdullahi explained.
Further investigation revealed the girls, Nabila Ibrahim (17) and Zainab Ibrahim (15), are from Zuru LGA in Kebbi state.
They said their parents approved their journey to Niger for work at a restaurant, though they didn’t know the owner.
The Comptroller of Immigration for Ilela Command, Tony Akuneme, conducted interviews and involved NAPTIP Sokoto State to handle the victims and the suspected trafficker.
Akuneme pledged to assist in investigations and possible prosecution, echoing the Immigration CG’s commitment to combat smuggling and trafficking.
