Immigration arrests suspected human trafficker at Lagos Passports Office

THE Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command, has arrested a suspected human trafficker and his victim, who attempted to beat all Immigration security procedures at the Ikeja Passport Office by attempting to obtain international passport with a fake name.

The victim, one Benedicta Ele-Ojo Okolo, had attempted to fool the Immigration Passport Controller by making him believe her real name was Miss Kareem Rachael Taiwo.

But she ran out of luck after the Immigration boss in charge of Alausa Passport office, Mr. Joshua Ajisafe’s investigation revealed that her given name was forged.

Benedicta had approached the Immigration for a passport with her principal and facilitator, one Pastor Uzonna Gacenine.

The prime suspect, one Madam Agnes Chinyere is, however, now at large.

Handing over the suspect to National Agency For People Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Immigration boss in charge of Lagos State Command, Mrs. Ahmadu J. A. noted that the suspects would be prosecuted according to relevant sections of the law.

Narrating what happened, Ahmadu said: “On social media, one Okolo Ele-Ojo Benedicta (victim) met one Mr. Charles Arinze and his sister, who are both resident in Dubai. After series of social interactions, she (Benedicta) was invited to Lagos where she was asked to meet one Agnes Chinyere, who later took her to a native herbalist for oath of allegiance, where her hair from the private part, armpit, head and blood were taken by the herbalist.”

“The following day, she was taken to the airport with a proxy passport where she was refused departure, according to the victim. Thereafter, she was asked to meet one Pastor Uzonna Gacenine of New World Assembly Church, Ajegunle, Lagos.

“On July 9, 2015, the pastor took Benedicta to the Passport Office, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos to procure an e-passport with given or pseudo names and forged date of birth.

The pseudo names are ‘Miss Kareem Rachael Taiwo, aged 35. Her original names are Benedicta Ele-Ojo Okolo, aged 24 years. At this point, I directed that the Passport Control Officer (PCO) in charge of Alausa Passport Office and other officers should play along by capturing and enrolling her biodata, so as to avoid the possibility of the victim and the facilitator going to another passport office.”

She added: “Eventually, when Benedicta and her facilitator could not substantiate the information and data provided in the application form for the e-passport, they were both arrested at the Passport Office, Alausa, Ikeja and referred to the Command Headquarters, Alagbon, Ikoyi for further necessary action.

“After screening and profiling at the Command, officials of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) were invited and the duo was handed over to the officials of NAPTIP accordingly.

“The PCO, Alausa Passport Office and the officers have done a good job with the measures put in place to nip such acts. Living up to their billings, the PCO, Alausa Passport Office, Ikeja as a seasoned, disciplined, reliable and dependable officer, acted accordingly by arresting the victim and the facilitator. We continue to enjoin them to remain vigilant at all times for persons or group of persons with such criminal intentions.”

She urged Nigerians to desist from human trafficking and obtaining Nigerian passports with fake names.