Immigration sensitise communities on illegal migration, trafficking

The Semé Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in partnership with Hearts and Hands Humanitarian Foundation (3HF) on Saturday sensitized communities in Seme on illegal migration and human trafficking.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the personnel of the NIS and the NGO walked from street to street with a public address system campaigning against illegal migration.

NAN reports that the awareness walk took them out of the border post to some communities in Semé, where they played and danced with the people.

Addressing the residents, the Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Adamu, urged residents to ensure they possessed their correct documents before traveling.

“The awareness walk is to stop human trafficking. Many people are trafficked through our inter lands.

“That is why we want to bring it to your notice today, especially child trafficking and child labor.

“The Nigerian Child Labor Act prohibits certain activities to be carried out by a child; a child has certain rights.

“We are telling you to say no to human trafficking; say no to child trafficking,” he said.

Mr. John Kedang, the Consultant Manager, 3HF, said the foundation was in Seme to sensitize the people about child trafficking and exploitation.

“Trafficking and exploitation are big issues affecting the world.

“Seme, in particular, is a transit community, which means that people from Lagos and Benin Republic pass through it.

“Transit communities are vulnerable to this situation. That is why we are here to sensitize them to the danger in child exploitation,” he said.

Kedang urged parents and guardians to stop child trafficking and exploitation, saying it would always leave a negative effect on the child.

Miss Favour Udeh, the Communication Officer, 3HF, identified poverty as the major cause of child exploitation and  trafficking.

“Most parents and children are being deceived and lied to.

“Some of the traffickers come to the village and lie to parents that they will take their children and train them in school because of poverty.

“We are collaborating with Seme command of NIS to create awareness and sensitize people to child labor and exploitation,” she said.

DCI Olu Ogar, Human Resources Manager, Semé Command, said that the awareness walk was also to sensitize the people on reasons for increase in the price of the Nigerian Passport.

Ogar said: “the passport pagination has increased with improved quality, so the Federal Government has to add money to the passport.

“Formerly, when you apply for passport it takes a long time to get, but now we give you in the space of a week.

“The government has also made more options available to access the Nigerian passport,” he said.