The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has embarked on a campaign to sensitise communities in the state against the dangers associated with the smuggling of migrants and irregular migration.
The sensitisation, which was taken to various communities, central motor park and worship places, is titled: “Migrants smuggling is dangerous: Do not fall prey”.
Launching the campaign in Katsina on Wednesday, the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGIS), Kemi Nnandap, said that the focus of the CGIS was to ensure effective border security and management to curtail transborder crimes.
Mr Nnandap, represented by a comptroller from the NIS Headquarters, Abuja, Alkasim Yunusa, enumerated some dangers associated with the smuggling of migrants.
The comptroller-general identified some of the dangers to include: victims on many occasions fall prey to kidnapping and or have their organs removed, forced into sexual exploitation, gangs of criminals, inter-county arms dealing, among other transnational crimes.
He noted that the perpetrators usually persuade their victims to follow irregular routes “so that they will not be documented even if something happens.”
Also speaking, the comptroller, Jibia Border command, Haruna Zakirai, said that if one must migrate, such a person should migrate safely, orderly and in accordance with the law.
“We encourage the public to partner with NIS to combat the smuggling of migrants.
“Some people die on the way before reaching their targeted destination. In fact, the perpetrators treat their victims in a dehumanised manner,” he said.
Deputy comptroller, Suleiman Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of the comptroller, Katsina command, Muhammad Mahmud, solicited the support of all stakeholders to bring an end to what he described as an ugly act.
He pointed out that women, youths and children were mostly the victims, hence the need for all stakeholders to partner with the service to curtail the menace.
While at the Katsina Central Motor Park, the NURTW secretary, Abdullahi Ibrahim, pledged to continuously educate their members against transporting illegal migrants to or out of the country.
He promised that whenever suspected illegal migrants come to the park, they would report the move to immigration personnel for prompt action.
Also, the representative of the District Head of Batagarawa, Musa Dalhatu, said that the sensitisation was timely, as traffickers lured their victims by promising them jobs abroad.
He urged the service to intensify efforts in deploying technology to the country’s borders with a view to effectively combating the menace.