The Nigeria Immigration Service, Illela Border command, Sokoto, has apprehended two female victims of human trafficking heading for Algeria through Niger Republic.

The comptroller of immigration, in charge of the Illela border command, Tony Akuneme, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Akuneme said the victims, Vivian Chigozie and Miracle Felix, had been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Sokoto command.

He said the victims were intercepted at the Tureta checkpoint at the border between Sokoto and Zamfara following a tip-off from the NAPTIP agents in Sokoto.

“Upon interrogation, it was gathered that the two young girls, aged 18 and 19 years respectively, were coming from Enugu state. They were on their way to Algeria through the Illela border without travelling documents when they were apprehended,” he said.

Mr Akuneme reaffirmed the commitment of the NIS, under the leadership of comptroller general Kemi Nandap, to fighting human trafficking and migrant smuggling across Nigerian borders.

He also assured that NIS would continue to collaborate with NAPTIP and all other sister security agencies to fight the menace of human trafficking.

In his response, the Sokoto State NAPTIP commander who received the victims from NIS, Abubakar Tabra, commended the comptroller and officers for their vigilance.

Mr Tabra also commended them for always cooperating with NAPTIP in the fight against human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.

(NAN)