The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rescued 36 victims of human trafficking and child labour at the Seme Border within the past month, as part of ongoing operations to combat irregular migration.
Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap, disclosed this on Tuesday at the NIS headquarters in Abuja during a one-day Stakeholders Sensitization Seminar on Evolving Patterns of Smuggling of Migrants: Towards a Coordinated National Response.
She expressed concern over the increasing involvement of young Nigerians in irregular migration, popularly referred to as the “japa syndrome,” revealing that 294 Nigerians were recently denied exit over suspected smuggling activities. According to her, 332 illegal migrants were also prevented from entering the country, a development she attributed to the deployment of CCTV cameras and other surveillance technologies at border points.
Nandap described migrant smuggling as a growing threat to national security and the well-being of citizens, calling for stronger collaboration among security agencies and international partners. She said Nigeria’s size and economic diversity make it both a source, transit, and destination country for migrants seeking better opportunities, but criminal networks exploit these aspirations for illicit gains.
“Migrant smuggling has become more complex and transnational, driven by well-organised criminal networks,” she said. “Addressing it requires a comprehensive and coordinated strategy rooted in partnership, vigilance, and shared responsibility.”
Highlighting the Service’s recent initiatives, Nandap noted that the 2025 Nationwide Anti-Smuggling Sensitization Campaign has reached schools, markets, and worship centres across all states. Over 577,000 National Youth Service Corps members have also been sensitised on the dangers of irregular migration. Plans are underway to establish Anti-Smuggling Clubs in schools and integrate similar initiatives into the NYSC Community Development Service structure.
She further revealed that the NIS is expanding its training programmes and strengthening collaboration with regional and global bodies, including the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, the European Union (EU), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), INTERPOL, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to enhance intelligence sharing and joint operations.
Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Migration, Ngozi Odikpo, said the seminar was designed to foster collaboration among key agencies for improved migration management. She stressed that migration issues are not just legal but humanitarian, requiring a multi-agency response to protect lives and national interests.
Also speaking, the Force Commander of the Combined Maritime Task Force, Navy Commodore A. Shettima, emphasised the need for greater synergy between the NIS and the Nigerian Navy to enhance maritime security. He said such collaboration would help identify foreign nationals involved in crimes such as oil smuggling, piracy, and human trafficking, while supporting joint operations to strengthen border protection.
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