The authorities of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Wednesday adjudged Edo State as the leading state in illegal migration and human trafficking in Nigeria.
Didi Adaezee, the Assistant Comptroller- General of NIS, Zone G who made the disclosure at the palace of the Oba of Benin did not however give statistics of illegal migration and human trafficking recorded in the state.
Adaezee, who led other top officials of the agency however advocated investment in agriculture, skill acquisitions and establishment of industries as the only way to stem youths involvement in these activities describing the situation as alarming.
Responding, the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, however charged the service to initiate security strategies geared towards checkmating illegal migration of armed men, suspected terrorists and illegal cross border arms smuggling around the nation’s borders.
The Monarch disclosed that the palace is collaborating with the state government to turn the attention of the youths in the state away from illegal migration and trafficking to self-employed ventures and agro businesses.
He added that the proposed export free zone at Galegele, industrial estates to be established across the seven local government areas of the Benin Kingdom and others were parts of effort being put in place to check the menace of illegal migration and trafficking.
He also informed the NIS boss that the palace was keenly monitoring activities of youths and the various traditional and community leaders across communities in Edo south to ensure investors’ confidence.
