The Nigeria Immigration Service blocked 294 Nigerians from leaving the country over suspected smuggling and denied entry to 332 undocumented migrants.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has stopped 294 Nigerians from leaving the country over suspected smuggling activities and denied entry to 332 undocumented migrants at the Seme border. Comptroller General Kemi Nandap disclosed the figures on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ seminar in Abuja on migrant smuggling.
Nandap also revealed that 36 victims of human trafficking and child labour were rescued in recent weeks at the Seme border, aided by newly installed CCTV cameras. “These are not annual statistics; they occurred within a short period, highlighting the scale of the problem we are dealing with,” she said.
Expressing concern over the rising “Japa” trend, she noted, “It is very disheartening when you see young people risking their lives because they feel the grass is greener on the other side.” She added that smuggling networks are increasingly organised and transnational. The NIS has adopted a multi-dimensional strategy, including legal reforms, public awareness campaigns, and inter-agency cooperation, to curb the menace.