The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rescued 59 women and children from human traffickers while they were being transported from Katsina State to N’Djamena, the capital of Chad.
The Borno State Comptroller of Immigration, Muktari Tanimu Musa, announced the development in Maiduguri on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, saying the victims were intercepted at Ngamboru, a border town near Nigeria’s frontier with Cameroon.
Musa explained that the group was travelling with a suspected trafficking agent who lured them with promises of “good jobs” in Chad.
“After interviewing them, it became clear they were being trafficked,” Musa said. “The agent deceived them with false employment offers, and many of the victims did not understand the risks involved.”
He added that the command has intensified surveillance along the Maiduguri–Ngala axis and is collaborating with the Borno State Government to strengthen border security and prevent the movement of trafficked persons through the corridor.
Musa also urged Nigerians to exercise caution when offered foreign job opportunities, particularly those promoting so-called “white-collar jobs abroad.” “We always encourage people to travel through proper visa channels and migrate with dignity,” he said.
Highlighting the dangers of trafficking, he warned that victims are often exploited for criminal activities, including organ harvesting. Musa further noted that trafficking networks sometimes operate with local assistance.
