The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has prevented 294 Nigerians from leaving the country over suspected smuggling activities and stopped 332 undocumented migrants from entering at the Seme border.

This was disclosed by Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, on Tuesday, November 11, during a one-day stakeholders’ seminar in Abuja themed “Evolving Patterns in Smuggling of Migrants: Towards a Coordinated National Response.”

Nandap revealed that 36 victims of human trafficking and child labour were recently rescued at the Seme border, aided by newly installed CCTV cameras that helped authorities intercept irregular migrants.

“These are not annual statistics; they occurred within a short period, highlighting the scale of the problem we are dealing with,” she noted.

The Immigration chief expressed concern over the growing trend of Nigerians leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad, popularly referred to as “Japa”. She described the phenomenon as risky and often life-threatening.

“It is very disheartening when you see young people risking their lives because they feel the grass is greener on the other side,” Nandap said.

She also pointed out that migrant smuggling has become more complex and transnational, driven by sophisticated criminal networks exploiting vulnerable individuals.

To tackle the issue, the NIS is working with local and international partners through a multi-dimensional approach, including strengthening legal and institutional frameworks, expanding public awareness campaigns, and enhancing inter-agency cooperation to ensure a coordinated national response.