The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said it rescued six victims of human trafficking in Jigawa en route Libya.

NIS comptroller in the state, Ahmed Bagari, told reporters in Dutse on Monday that men of the Jigawa command rescued the victims on Sunday.

Mr Bagari, represented by DCI Muhammad Yako, said the victims were rescued at about 6:30 p.m. in an uncompleted building in Babura town, headquarters of Babura Local Government Area of the state.

He explained that the victims, between 20 and 35 years, were intercepted while on their way to Libya en route Niger Republic.

The comptroller added that the victims, five females and a male are from Oyo and Nassarawa states.

According to him, none of the rescued victims had any travel documents, and no incriminating items were found on them during interrogation.

He said the victims are Olalekan A. Alabi, 35; Kehinde Adetunde, 26; Afolabi Ajibola, 24; Adedoyin Adetoji, 20; Olawuyi Mose Bolatimoyo, 35, and Blessing John, 22.

“The victims were rescued in an uncompleted building in Babura town which we believe they were kept by a syndicate,” the comptroller said.

He added that the NIS comptroller-general, Idris Jere, had directed that the victims be handed over to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further action.

According to him, Mr Jere also advised parents, guardians and the general public to desist from sending their children or wards abroad for non-existing greener pastures.

“Nigeria is far better than the so-called greener pastures abroad in terms of freedom and other expectations. It is important to advise parents, guardians, and the general public to watch over their children or wards and instil patriotism in them to stay in their country of origin and build it to greater heights.

“This non-existing greener pastures abroad deprives them of their freedom and exposes them to slavery, forced labour, organ harvest and death in the desert and at sea, en route to their destination,” Mr Bagari said.

He further urged the general public to exercise their civic responsibilities by reporting cases of human trafficking and other related criminal acts to the nearest security agencies.

(NAN)