Human trafficking now becoming most profitable illegal business­ —Immigration

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Saturday said human trafficking was now becoming the most profitable illegal business in the world after drug and gunrunning.

Yussuff Mummen, Assistant Controller General of Immigration, who oversees Ogun State command, made this known during an interview with newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Mummen said that the command had deployed surveillance team to all motor parks in the state to curtail incidences of human trafficking.

He added that the command was working with transport unions to prevent children below the age of 16 from travelling unaccompanied by their parents or relatives.

He said that the advice became imperative as such children might be victims of human trafficking and in some cases, the children were always returned to their homes after being used.

The assistant controller general maintained that people being  trafficked were mainly women and children, adding that women were mostly being trafficked for prostitution and children for forced labour.

“The command also has anti human trafficking and child labour section at Nigerian boarders in the state.

“Just two days ago, we promoted over 50 officers of the command with the charge to them to exhibit professionalism in order to put an end to human trafficking in the state and the country.

“We are also synergising with other security agencies, particularly the department of State Security Service (SSS) to prevent Nigerians from being trafficked,” he said.