Nigerian Immigration Suspends 2 Officers For Alleged Human Trafficking

Nigerian Immigration Suspends 2 Officers For Alleged Human Trafficking

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has suspended two officers, Araoyinbo Oluwadare and Gabriel Awosanmi, for allegedly aiding and abetting human trafficking.

Spokesman of the agency, Mr Sunday James, announced this in a statement on Friday.

NAN reports that Oluwadare, a Senior Inspector of Immigration, and Awosanmi, an Immigration Assistant 1, were arrested at the Lagos international airport on Thursday night.

They allegedly facilitated an attempted trafficking of six underage girls to Oman and Kuwait through an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

Reports say aviation security personnel at the airport apprehended the duo. James said:

“The Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, has ordered the suspension of the above mentioned from duties with immediate effect in line with Service Rules and Regulations.

“The suspension is to allow for detailed investigation into the issue with a view to unraveling their level of culpability and indeed other syndicates involved in the act.

“The comptroller-general therefore assures the public of management’s commitment to the eradication of smuggling of migrants and trafficking of persons in the country.’’

Saraki made the promise alongside the governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, at a Senate roundtable migration and human trafficking in Benin City, on Monday, February 26.

While addressing stakeholders at the roundtable, he lamented the high index of Nigeria’s population involved in illegal migration and human trafficking.