NIS arrests suspected human trafficker, rescues 3 victims in Katsina

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested a 49-year-old suspected human trafficker, Monday Adeoye Olanipekun, and rescued three victims in Katsina State.

The comptroller of NIS in Katsina, Ajisafe Joshua Olusola, said it was established that Olanipekun was guiding one of the victims throughout her trip from Benin City, Abuja and Kano.

He said the suspect was arrested by operatives of the command at Charanchi Patrol Base, on Kano-Katsina road, three days ago based on intelligence report.

According to him, investigation revealed that Olanipekun was in possession of ECOWAS travel certificate, which showed that he was a frequent traveler between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

The victims, according to Olusola, are Jovita Okafor, 28, Anyanwu Udochukwu, 33 and Alajide Ayomikun, 26.

Olusola said the suspect had collected N30,000 from Okafor as payment to facilitate her trip to Niger Republic and connect her with one Mr Usman who will facilitate her onward trip to Europe.

According to him, the two other victims, were introduced to the suspect by one Ugochukwu who is presently residing in Europe, adding that the victims had earlier contacted the suspect and agreed to pay N160,000 as part payment for their trip.

“We have discovered that Olanipekun has been in this trafficking business for a very long time based on his links with people both in and out of Nigeria,” Olusola said.

Olanipekun, who was arrested carrying eight data pages of international passports belonging to a commissioner and other top government officials of Kogi State, said “I’m a professional marketer and going to Niamey for tourism.”

Asked how he got the pages, he said “I’m a Master Degree holder, doing research on water, I got these documents from one lawyer Lewis Asiyo, I don’t traffic human beings”.

On what he intended to do with them, Olanipekun said he has an NGO on agricultural tourism foundation and research in Niamey, Niger Republic