The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has handed over a 13-year-old girl it arrested in Kebbi to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP).

Comptroller of the NIS in the state, Rabi Bashir-Nuhu, said the teenager from Ogun was arrested on August 9 by immigration personnel in Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi on her way to Libya.

“She gave our men some contacts, and among the contacts was someone from Libya which made us believe that the girl was a victim of trafficking.

“Upon further interrogation by the Anti-human Trafficking Unit, the girl claimed she was going to Libya to serve as a housemaid.

“We did not believe that; we have the belief that she is being trafficked to go to Libya to be used for labour exploitation, prostitution or organ harvesting,” the comptroller said.

Ms Bashir-Nuhu assured that NIS would not allow any suspicious character or person profiting from human trafficking to pass its net in the state.

In her response, the victim told journalists that she hails from Ekiti State but lives with her grandmother in Ogun.

“Someone contacted my grandmother and asked me to come to Sokoto state, and she gave me a contact that I should call If I come to Sokoto for onward movement to Libya,” she said.

Receiving the victim, Sokoto zonal commander of NAPTIP, Abubakar Abdullahi, said the agency would investigate the matter thoroughly.

“We will ensure that the girl reaches her family and undertake a diligent investigation,” he said.

Mr Abdullahi, represented by Rilwanu Buhari, commended NIS for collaborating with the agency to eradicate human trafficking in the country. 

(NAN)