NIS Launches Border Campaign, Urges Jibiya Communities to Expose Migrant Smugglers
By Zubairu Idris
Border Communities Mobilized Against Human Trafficking Networks
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched a critical two-day sensitization campaign targeting border communities in Jibiya, Katsina State, urging residents to become active participants in exposing migrant smuggling operations that threaten both individual lives and national security.
Under the theme “Say no to Migrants Smuggling, if you must migrate, migrate orderly, safely and regularly,” the initiative aims to dismantle the networks facilitating illegal border crossings and related transborder crimes.
The Human Cost of Irregular Migration
Mr. Haruna Suleiman-Zakirai, Comptroller of the Jibiya Special Border Command, delivered a stark warning about the realities facing those who entrust their lives to smugglers. “Migrants going through smugglers could easily fall victim to organ harvesting, child labour, prostitution, or recruitment by criminal gangs,” he stated.
The comptroller emphasized that traffickers typically lure victims with deceptive promises of prosperity abroad. “Trafficking is a crime against humanity, it is a network, but we are also equal to the task. Our officers are up-and-doing to protect citizens from such criminals,” Suleiman-Zakirai affirmed.
A Multi-Pronged Approach to Border Security
When victims are intercepted, the NIS adopts a comprehensive response. “Anytime we rescue victims, we educate them on the risks associated with the illegal migration they may likely face either on the road or after reaching their destination,” the comptroller explained. “We then hand them over to NAPTIP for further action and reunion with their families.”
The official advised all Nigerians contemplating international travel to obtain valid documentation and use only recognized border posts. Katsina State maintains seven official border posts—Jibiya/Magama, Jibiya/Maje, Dankama, Zango, Mai’aduwa, Kongolon, and Babban-Mutum—along with two outposts at Yardaje and Birnin-Kuka.
Community Vigilance: The First Line of Defense
With the Jibiya Command responsible for patrolling a substantial 220-kilometer stretch from Jibiya to Babban-Mutum, Suleiman-Zakirai made a direct appeal to local residents. He urged border communities to support immigration efforts by providing credible, real-time information on suspicious movements and irregular migrant activities.
This community-oriented strategy represents a crucial evolution in border management, recognizing that effective security requires partnership with those who call these frontier regions home.
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