By Evelyn Usman

The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has arrested a 24-year-old suspected female trafficker and rescued six young women at the Seme border axis in Lagos State.

The suspect, identified as Miss Victor Jennifer, from Benue State, was apprehended while allegedly attempting to traffic the women, aged between 20 and 23 years.

The arrest, it was gathered, followed a coordinated operation by officers of the Lagos State Border Patrol Command, Seme, working in collaboration with other security agencies. The interception, according to the Command, occurred on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Zone ‘A’ Command of the NIS, the Service said none of the victims was in possession of valid travel documents.

The statement noted that “the operation was part of sustained efforts to curb irregular migration and transnational organised crime, particularly along the volatile Seme border corridor, notorious for human trafficking activities”.

The Service disclosed that the suspect and the rescued victims were initially taken to the Nigeria Immigration Zonal Office, Zone ‘A’ Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, for preliminary investigation, before being transferred to the NIS Headquarters in Abuja on February 6, 2026, for further action.

Confirming the development, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Immigration and Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’, ACG Mohammed Adamu, said, “the Service maintains zero tolerance for human trafficking, irregular migration and other transnational crimes . It remains committed to protecting Nigeria’s borders and vulnerable persons from exploitation.

” The operation aligns with ongoing reforms and a renewed drive aimed at strengthening border security and combating human trafficking nationwide, under the vision of the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap.

“The reforms are focused on enhanced border management, intelligence-led operations and effective interagency collaboration, as part of a broader strategy to modernise the Service and improve national security”.

ACG Adamu assured that the suspect would be prosecuted in line with extant laws to serve as a deterrent to others.