The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) command at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos has arrested nine Nigerian trafficked girls bound for Lebanon, Cairo, Dubai and India.
Spokesman for the command, Mr. Sunday James said in a statement in Lagos on Saturday that the girls were to travel on Ethiopian Airlines, Air Peace, Egypt Air and East Airlines.
He said four of the girls claimed they were traveling for employment purpose but they neither knew their employers nor the nature of the jobs they were going for, while two claimed they were going on a visit.
James said the shady trip was organised by agents who took advantage of the girls’ innocence and ignorance.
“This discovery was made after intensive interrogation by NIS officials.
“…Two confessed they were going for hustle in Dubai. Another three…claimed they were going to India for medical treatment without referrals.
“When further asked the nature of sickness, they said yellow fever before they finally confessed to be going for hustling in India,” he said.
He said NIS denied them travelling to save them from indignity arising from journeys.
“The comptroller general of NIS, Mr. Muhammad Babandede, therefore, called on parents to be wary of juicy offers on their children, from family and non-family members to take the children abroad.
“Most of these trips are deceitful, camouflaged with employment, studies or visit which may end up in exploitation or death. Operatives at the various entry and exit points will never permit them departure.
“The NIS stepped-up clearance operation that is yielding positive result in the various arrest made at the borders of the country by NIS,” he added.
