The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos said it has helped to stop the trafficking of 100 Nigerian girls from January till March 2022.
The Comptroller of the Command, Kemi Nana Nandap disclosed to newsmen at the airport yesterday that the girls were prevented from travelling following the deployment of the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS).
She therefore called for the sensitisation of young girls on the dangers of travelling overseas without purpose, as many of them were deceived daily into believing that their lives would be better once they leave Nigeria.
Nandap explained that MIDAS is a user-friendly and customizable Border Management Information System (BMIS) which helps to collect, process, store and analyze traveler information and share data in real-time across an entire national border network.
The Comptroller who disclosed this during the pre-arrival briefing of some returnees to the airport said through the application of MIDAS, a lot of successes have been recorded in stopping potential traffickers.
According to her, many young girls were usually lured with juicy job offers outside the country only to turn them into sex slaves.
She however said through the officers’ thorough investigation, proper checks of passengers’ travel history, they were able to detect potential cases of trafficking.
She said, “MIDAS has revolutionised border management and made our borders more secure. We usually bring in these girls, and profile them. The Comptroller General of Immigration is very keen about border management so that we can stop trafficking, which has a lot to do with border control. We have deployed more men at the airport and put in place so many protocols for departure.
She also explained that the departure protocol is now more rigorous with very talented and dedicated officers manning various points at the airport, adding that this has reduced those of persons leaving the country irregularly.
“We screen them thoroughly. We have put in place a lot of checks and balances. We have been able to regulate the departure of some of these young girls. Most of them have the illusion that it is better out there but we have to educate them. We have some of them coming back with horrific stories. A lot needs to be done in sensitising our young girls,” she said.
THISDAY
