Against the backdrop of the increasing death of Nigerians seeking to leave the country illegally through the Mediterranean Sea and the deserts, some civil society groups have urged those planning to embark on such trips to have a rethink.

They also expressed their displeasure with smugglers and traffickers who take advantage of vulnerable citizens to perpetrate their nefarious acts.

The groups spoke at a sensitisation campaign, which was funded by the European Union and ECOWAS, and organised by International Organisation of Migration (IOM) at Seme border.  

National President, Network Against Child Trafficking Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), Adaramola Emmanuel, harped on the need to educate citizens on the dangers of irregular migration. Emmanuel explained that people travel without the right information and most times end up in wrong hands, advising Nigerians to make adequate inquires before traveling. 

He noted that the organisation conducts training for the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Police to keep them updated on new strategies employed by human smugglers. PRO for NIS, Seme Command, Yusuf Babatunde, urged citizens seeking to migrate to acquire valid documents and travel through legal routes, adding that NIS has put in elaborate strategies to ensure easy movement across the border.

National PRO, NACTAL, Osita Osemene, encouraged everyone to be part of the campaign to end irregular travelling, saying it was a collective responsibility and also called on the government to provide enabling environment that would enable citizens interested in developing the nation than other countries to thrive.