At least 46 women and children intercepted while allegedly attempting to travel through irregular routes to the Republic of Chad have been handed over to the Katsina State government by Nigeria’s anti-trafficking agency.
The victims, rescued by officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), were intercepted at the Maiduguri border in Borno state while reportedly en route to Chad in search of economic opportunities, before being returned to Katsina on Friday.
Several of the returnees said they had embarked on the journey because of worsening hardship and a desire to earn a living.
One of them, Naja’atu Salisu, a mother of two from Zango local government area, said she intended to travel to Jummaina in Chad to engage in trade.
“We set out to travel to Jummaina in Chad, but immigration officials intercepted us and returned us,” she said. “Our intention from the beginning was to look for money through lawful means by engaging in a trade.”
Salisu, who said she was a tailor, explained that she raised money for the trip with support from her father.
“I am married with two children, aged four and two. I left my children behind to look for a means of livelihood. We are now seeking financial support to start a small business so we can settle down,” she added.
Another returnee, Maryam Alhaji Salis, also from Zango, said she was hoping to earn money ahead of her marriage.
“I intended to get married, but I do not have household items. That was the reason for my journey,” she said.
She said she borrowed part of her transport fare and sold her remaining livestock to fund the trip.
“Even though household items are not compulsory for marriage, it is still desirable to have them. Once Allah grants me success, I will return home,” she said.
Ladidi Audu, a mother of eight, said ill health and the loss of her livelihood pushed her towards the risky journey.
“The reason I wanted to leave the country is mainly because of my health condition. I have no job, and I am struggling with ill health,” she said.
Audu said she lost her source of income after suffering severe burns while frying akara and spent months undergoing treatment.
“I was told that the poor and the sick are assisted there, and that was why I agreed to go,” she added.
Handing over the victims, the Katsina state commander of NAPTIP, Musa Aliyu, said the agency remained determined to combat trafficking, child labour and irregular migration.
“Our personnel intercepted these 46 victims in Maiduguri, Borno state on Wednesday. We received them on Thursday, and today we are handing them over to the state government,” Aliyu said.
He said the agency had rescued about 70 trafficked persons so far in 2026, most of them women.
Receiving the victims on behalf of the Katsina state government, Shehu Abdu Daura, special assistant to Governor Dikko Umar Radda on drugs, narcotics and human trafficking, said many of the victims were lured with false promises of jobs abroad.
“These scammers falsely promised them job opportunities abroad, which in many cases have led people to lose their lives or lose contact with their families forever,” Daura said.
He warned against illegal migration, saying those travelling through undocumented routes faced serious dangers and lacked protection.
“We are not discouraging people from travelling overseas legally, but those taken through illegal routes are not recognised or protected anywhere,” he said.
Daura urged the returnees to embrace local livelihoods such as farming and trading, assuring them of the state government’s support as they are returned to their local governments and communities.
