The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) apprehended 51 suspected irregular migrants from Mali in New Nyanya, located in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NIS Public Relations Officer Akinsola Akinlabi confirmed the arrests and offered additional details regarding the situation.
Akinlabi stated that the migrants were detained on Monday as part of an effort to investigate the potential trafficking or smuggling activities they might be involved in.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s borders are protected against illegal migration while upholding the rights of migrants who comply with the country’s immigration laws.
“The service continues to work closely with relevant authorities and stakeholders to combat smuggling of migrants and counter trafficking in persons effectively.
“The NIS reassures the general public of its unwavering commitment to national security and migration management while encouraging citizens to report suspicious migration activities to the nearest NIS commands and formations,” the statement read.