Katsina — The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Katsina State command, has arrested a suspected human traffick kingpin, Prince Osaze-Okpogie, along with 21 victims of the illicit trade.

Parading the suspect and the victims before reporters at the command's headquarters, the state Immigration Controller, Alhaji Suleiman Ahmed, said the victims were apprehended following a security tip off.

Ahmed averred that the victims included eight females and 13 males with ages ranging from 21 years. He said they were arrested along the Jibia-Magama border road.

He said the victims arrived in two batches, and that both the leader and the victims were of Edo State origin, adding that investigations carried out revealed that they were traveling en route Niger Republic through Libiya to Europe to seek greener pastures.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that it was only the suspected kingpin that was carrying valid traveling documents while the rest had fake ECOWAS traveling documents printed at a local printing press in Benin City.

Ahmed, who said the command would be going the extra mile to identify the printers in Benin City, maintained that the Immigration service would go after the syndicate producing the fake traveling documents and ensure arrests for prosecution.

He declared that the suspected kingpin and the victims would be transferred to the NAPTIP office in Kano for further interrogation, and appealed to parents to watch and advise their wards against people who may come to deceive them with promises of better opportunities abroad.

Fielding questions from reporters, the suspected human trafficker said he and the victims, whom he claimed to be his relations, friends and town people, were on their way to Europe via Niger Republic and North African countries.

One of the victims, Miss Vivian Idike, 21, who said she was an auxiliary nurse, told reporters that she was tricked into the tedious expedition by the promises of a better life in Europe. She said that her father was not aware of the mission, and that that her mother was involved in the general plot.

Another victim, Miss Sylvia, 28, hair-dresser by profession, said she was not aware of the trip as the suspect deceived her and others into the dangerous expedition, adding that he succeeded in forcing them to take a route that was illegal, as they had no option but to follow his instruction.