Immigration Service Blocks Nearly 300 Nigerians From Leaving Amid Crackdown On Smuggling

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has intercepted 294 Nigerians attempting to leave the country over suspected smuggling activities and denied entry to 332 undocumented migrants at the Seme border.

Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, revealed the development on Tuesday, November 11, during a stakeholders’ sensitization seminar in Abuja themed “Evolving Patterns in Smuggling of Migrants: Towards a Coordinated National Response.”

Nandap further disclosed that the agency recently rescued 36 victims of human trafficking and child labour at the Seme border, thanks to newly installed CCTV cameras that aided the detection and interception of irregular migrants.

“These are not annual statistics; they occurred within a short period, highlighting the scale of the problem we are dealing with,” she emphasized.

Expressing concern over the increasing number of Nigerians embarking on irregular migration in search of better opportunities abroad popularly known as the ‘Japa’ trend Nandap lamented the dangers faced by many who risk their lives on uncertain journeys.

“It is very disheartening when you see young people risking their lives because they feel the grass is greener on the other side,” she said.

She explained that migrant smuggling has become “more complex and transnational,” driven by organized criminal networks that prey on vulnerable individuals.

To tackle the challenge, Nandap said the NIS, in collaboration with both local and international partners, has adopted a multi-faceted strategy, strengthening legal frameworks, boosting awareness campaigns, and enhancing inter-agency coordination to build a more unified national response.