NIS Seeks Synergy With Border Host community
By Okezie Nnadi
TheController of Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Seme border area, Comptroller Olajiire Fatai Shittu has sounded a note of warning to the general public to adhere to the law against illegal activities of human trafficking at the border axis.
The act that he described as barbaric and inhuman does not exalt the nation. Comptroller Shittu on behalf of his team at the SEME border axis is pleading with the border host community to be more cooperative, and vigilant and report any notice of illegal moves in their environment that will help the NIS succeed in its assign duty in the terrain.
He narrated a case of a girl that was just rescued recently by his team at the border.
The girl named Bolanle who was brought to be smuggled out of the country to Benin by her boyfriend but was rescued and handed over to her father in his office.
The controller’s team rescued the victim who who was taken away from his father in the far eastern part of Nigeria and landed at SEME to be crossed into Benin for hustling according to the story she narrated.
He also reiterated that this has been the most common happenings in the area and how luck has been against the perpetrators, they have been so unlucky as his officers have been intercepting them although there are some few cases where the okada rider carrying them will increase speed so much so that the officers will have to let go in order not to record loss of lives.
He stressed that the trend of human trafficking has its inherent risks and dangers in the form of survivors being exposed to slavery, forced labour, organ harvest and even death in the desert and sea en route to their perceived destination.
He advised the general public to report cases of human trafficking and other related criminal acts to the nearest security agencies.
He appealed to the host community not to harbour criminals who have refused to recognize the law governing the land border but to see the NIS presence as part of norms.
He also commended the Controller General of immigration for is support towards the border axis.
