The Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) in North Central Zone, Sector 3 of Kwara State Command in the course of fighting illegal activities in the country, have arrested human traffickers with about 80 children.
The traffickers were intercepted with the children in Kwara and Niger states.
This was disclosed by the Coordinator of the team, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters on Wednesday while briefing newsmen at the command headquarters in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
He said that the children had been handed over to Nigeria Immigration Service and National Agency for Prohibition of trafficking in persons (NAPTIP).
According to him, the patrol team also arrested five illegal immigrants who specialized in stealing and duping traders in Nigerian markets with means of charm (Juju).
Peters said the team arrested the suspects while conducting stop and search along Lokoja- Abuja highway, on February 21 2021 in Mazda 626 with registration number ABJ 187 BF.
He added that they found 15 bundles and 18 pieces of wrappers concealed in bonnet and other component of the vehicle conveying the five women from Zuba Abuja to Lokoja in Kogi State.
According to him, the preliminary investigations revealed that the Five (5) women are from different countries (Chad, Ghana, Mali, Benin and Niger Republic).
“They were found to be illegal immigrants without any means of identification.
”Investigation further revealed that they operate as a syndicate comprising of two groups, which specializes in duping and stealing of women wrappers and most times using charm to perpetrate their crimes.
“One group operates in Kaduna and the other in Kano axis. The two groups came into the country through Katsina and Seme illegal routes”.
He named the suspects as, Fatima Mohammadu (38) from Niger Republic, Judith Kofi (29) from Ghana, Fanta Camara (30) from Mali, Fadima Traore ((37) from Chad, Fatimata Camara (39) from Benin Republic while Fatima Mohammadu (Nigerien) is the leader of the group.
“Fatimata Camara, Fatima Mohammadu and Fanta Camara confessed to stealing 15 bundles of the wrappers worth N250,000 in Kogi State.”
The JBPT Coordinator, however, said the driver of the Mazda 626, Mufutau Woye (34) is a Nigerian from Kwara State but resides in Kubwa FCT Abuja and is a commercial driver, noting that ”He was only hired to transport them “to and fro” Kogi State.’
Peters hinted that all the suspects would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.
He further disclosed that the team comprising Customs, ONSA, NIA, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Army and other agencies has recorded 128 seizures since the beginning of 2021 till date.
Seized items, according to him are 1,584 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 48 units of used vehicles, 7 motorcycles 1,864 Jerricans of 25 liters PMS.
Others are 18 Jerricans of 25 liters AGO, 21 bales of secondhand clothing, 86 and 20 pairs of men and women used cloths,21 bags of 50kg foreign sugar, 5 locally made dane gun, jack knife, axe and cutlass, 7 drums of PMS,
He added that six illegal immigrants, 60,000 Currency in CFA and 948 cartons of foreign tomato paste were also intercepted
He said the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized goods was N75, 851, 300.
