At least 46 women and children who were trafficked through irregular migration routes while attempting to travel to the Republic of Chad have been intercepted by operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and handed over to the Katsina State Government.
The victims were reportedly intercepted by security agencies at the Maiduguri border area in Borno State while allegedly en route to Chad in search of economic opportunities. Following their interception, they were returned to Katsina State on Friday, where they were formally received by state government officials.
NAPTIP officials said the operation formed part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking, child labour, and irregular migration, particularly along Nigeria’s porous northern borders, which have increasingly become transit corridors for traffickers and desperate migrants.
According to the agency, the intercepted group consisted mainly of women and children who had been lured or encouraged to travel through unofficial routes with promises of jobs, welfare support, or improved living conditions in neighbouring countries.
Some of the victims, who spoke with journalists after their return, cited worsening economic hardship, unemployment, lack of access to basic social services, and family responsibilities as the primary reasons that pushed them to embark on the dangerous journey.
One of the returnees, Naja’atu Salisu, a mother of two from Zango Local Government Area of Katsina State, said she had hoped to find lawful means of livelihood in Chad to support her young family.
“We set out to travel to Jummaina in Chad, but immigration officials intercepted us and returned us. Our intention was to look for money through lawful means by engaging in a trade,” Salisu explained.
She said she is a tailor by profession but could no longer sustain herself due to poor patronage and rising costs of living. According to her, the decision to travel was a desperate attempt to improve her family’s situation.
“I raised money for the journey with the help of my father. I left my two children, aged four and two, behind, hoping that when I find something doing, I will be able to give them a better life,” she said.
Now back in Katsina, Salisu appealed for financial assistance to enable her start a small business and settle down. “We are seeking support to start something small so that we don’t have to think of travelling again,” she added.
Another returnee, Maryam Alhaji Salis, also from Zango Local Government Area, said her planned journey to Chad was motivated by the need to earn money ahead of her forthcoming marriage.
“I do not have household items for marriage, and that was the reason for my journey,” she said.
Maryam disclosed that she borrowed part of the money used for transportation and sold her remaining livestock to finance the trip, believing she could quickly earn enough to prepare for her marriage.
“I thought it was the only option left for me,” she said, adding that she now regrets the decision and hopes to receive support to rebuild her life locally.
Also sharing her experience, Ladidi Audu, a mother of eight, said a combination of ill health and loss of livelihood forced her to consider travelling out of the country.
“I have no job and I am struggling with ill health. I was told that the poor and the sick are assisted there, and that was why I agreed to go,” she explained.
Ladidi said she lost her source of income after suffering severe burns while frying akara, an incident that left her unable to continue her petty trading activities.
“I spent months receiving treatment, and during that time I had no steady means of income. Life became very difficult,” she said.
Speaking during the formal handover of the victims, the NAPTIP Commander in Katsina State, Musa Aliyu, said the agency intercepted the 46 trafficked persons in Maiduguri on Wednesday before transferring them to Katsina on Thursday.
Aliyu revealed that the incident highlights the persistent challenge of trafficking and irregular migration in the country, despite ongoing sensitisation efforts.
“So far in 2026, NAPTIP has rescued about 70 trafficked persons, most of them women. This shows that trafficking and irregular migration remain serious challenges that require collective action,” he said.
He explained that traffickers often prey on vulnerable individuals by exploiting poverty, unemployment, and misinformation, particularly in rural communities.
Receiving the victims on behalf of the Katsina State Government, the Special Assistant to Governor Dikko Umar Radda on Drugs, Narcotics and Human Trafficking, Shehu Abdu Daura, said many of the victims were deceived by traffickers who made false promises of lucrative jobs and better living conditions abroad.
“These scammers promised them jobs, but in many cases such journeys have led to people losing their lives or completely losing contact with their families,” Daura warned.
He stressed that irregular migration exposes individuals to grave dangers, including exploitation, abuse, sexual violence, forced labour, and even death, especially when they travel through undocumented routes.
Daura assured the returnees that the state government would provide necessary support to help them reintegrate into their communities and rebuild their lives.
“We are not discouraging legal travel, but those who go through illegal routes are not protected anywhere. Once you leave through undocumented routes, you are on your own,” he said.
He urged the victims and other residents to explore local economic opportunities such as farming, small-scale trading, and vocational skills, noting that the government is working to expand social support programmes for vulnerable populations.
The interception has once again drawn attention to the socio-economic pressures driving irregular migration in northern Nigeria, as well as the urgent need for sustained public awareness, economic empowerment initiatives, and stronger border surveillance.
NAPTIP officials reiterated their commitment to intensifying operations against traffickers and strengthening collaboration with security agencies, state governments, and community leaders to stem the tide of human trafficking and protect vulnerable Nigerians from exploitation.
