Saudi Arabia authority has deported 167 illegal migrants (foreign citizens) to Nigeria.
This is just as National Agency for the Prohibition for Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP), Kano chapter disclosed that the agency had secured conviction of 17 people who were trial and sentenced to various offences committed under review from January to October 2023.
Speaking on behalf of the state commander Barrister Abdullahi Shuaibu Babale the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the command, Mr Aliyu Abba Khalil, said but after a thorough investigation, it was discovered that seven out of the above illegal migrants repatriated from Saudi Arabia authority were from. Ghana and the remaining one is from Burkina Faso.
He, however, added that no fewer than 255 were rescued from human trafficking, while still under review, in collaboration with International Organisation for Migration, the agency received a total number of 983 illegal and irregular migrants who left the country without proper documentation.
“These people were on their way to different countries, like Saudi Arabia, and Beirut. Dubai Lebanon and other foreign countries, they were apprehended and brought back to the country, through Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).”
He then added that all those rescued from human trafficking or received as illegal migrants that needed prosecution were charged to court, while others that were non-Nigerians were delivered to their respective embassies on ward reunited back to their families.
Commenting on various risks involved in human trafficking, Barrister Babale, said there were personal and societal risks which including the victims adding that this occurred when they were recruited
The risks they would pass through on their unknown journey to Libya on their way to Italy were full of intimidation harassment by the respective foreign countries’ security patrols, they would pass through the desert and this may lead to untimely death of many of them.
He hinted that even when they were deported back to their countries, some of them who had contracted deadly diseases, like HIV and other asexually transmitted diseases, could easily pass them to innocent citizens.
He stated that most people that were victims of human trafficking were desperate to search for a greener pasture in foreign countries, but ended up finding themselves being used by human traffickers to achieve their selfish ambitions.
Barrister Babale however advised innocent people not to become prey in the hands of over-ambitious persons, who were ready to sacrifice their lives to achieve their selfish ego.
According to him, going by high numbers of people rescued, the conviction and returned victims to their respective embassies and families from January to October the agency had achieved a lot.