The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has handed over to NAPTIP, a 17-year-old girl arrested in Kebbi while allegedly on her way to Libya.

The girl, from Oyo, was travelling alone when she was arrested by immigration personnel in the Yauri local government area of Kebbi.

The Kebbi NIS comptroller, Rabi Bashir-Nuhu, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

He said although the girl said she was travelling to Sokoto, “we have the belief that she is being trafficked to go to Libya to be used for labour exploitation, prostitution or organ harvesting.”

Ms Bashir-Nuhu explained that the girl was intercepted at the Yauri border on November 26, unaccompanied, thereby raising suspicion about her movement.

According to her, the girl said she was sent by her mother to meet an individual named Zainab in Sokoto, who claimed to be sick when invited to the NIS office in Kebbi.

“This made us believe that the girl was a victim of trafficking; she has no documents, has nothing and not even a penny,” Mr Bashir-Nuhu added.

The controller said it was disheartening that despite warnings by NIS and its partners, parents still allow their children to undertake such a perilous journey.

Receiving the victim, NAPTIP commandant Misbahu Iyya-Kaura said the agency would investigate the matter.

“We are going to investigate the recruitment, transit and the final destination of the victim,” said Mr Iyya-Kaura.

(NAN)