Immigration Launches Security Document To Tackle Human Trafficking

NIS has introduced a security document as part of efforts to tackle human trafficking.

 

Newsonline reports that the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, says it has introduced a security document as part of its efforts to combat human trafficking.

Also: FG Directs Immigration Service To Allow Nigerians With Expired Passports To Return Home

 

It said the new method adopted by traffickers is to enable them to escape rigorous security inspections at borders while traveling to any of the ECOWAS member states.

The NIS also said the document was introduced amid concerns raised over the increased rate at which young people obtained the ECOWAS travel certificate in Bayelsa, instead of the passport.

 

The ECOWAS travel certificate was introduced in 2006 as part of measures to facilitate improved travel relations among member countries.

NIS spokesperson in Bayelsa, Ibiemo Cookey, said this in a statement on Thursday, NAN reports.

Cookey said the NIS, after conducting risk analysis, age review, travel purposes, and frequently visited countries by certificate holders, asked the document issuance unit of ECOWAS to introduce a new security requirement — the ‘Suspicious Travel Interrogation Form’.

 

He said the security document will form part of the requirements for persons interested in travelling from Nigeria to any of the ECOWAS states.

The Bayelsa NIS spokesperson said the security measure has had positive impact as some persons have been rescued from being trafficked.

“It has helped in rescuing two victims by denying them the facility and denying several others without genuine reasons for travels, after due diligence interrogation,” he said.

“The Bayelsa command will not rest on its oars, until the syndicates are exposed and the only well justified, authentic trips without any link to Trafficking in Persons (TIPs) or Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) are established through the use of our interrogative process and vital intelligence tools to fight the menace.”