Residents of Onne Rivers State, have been enjoined to shun Irregular Migration and Migrants smuggling.
Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service, Rivers Marine Command Onne, peter Iregbu who gave the advice during Nationwide sensitization on Dangers of Irregular Migration in Onne community, insisted that illegal migration has become a threat to the National Security.
Mr. Peter who regretted the Dangers of illegal migration explained that the sensitization was put up by the service to educate residents on the need of following lawful means of migration.
According to him, Regular or lawful migration was about saving lives and restoring the dignity of the nation at the global stage.
He told the participants to join hands with the service to contend illegal migration and Migrants smuggling by following the lawful procedures.
“The risk associated with irregular Migration are numerous and sadly many Nigerians have fallen victims of the deceptive promises made by human traffickers; which led to organ harvesting, prostitution, which led to sexually transmitted diseases of various types.
Thousands have been promised a better life abroad only to face terrific exploitation, abuse and even deaths in foreign lands.
This is not just a tragedy, it is an affront to the dignity of our people.”
In an interactive session, Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, Mr. Jacob Mamman who lamented that Nigerians have been subjected to dehumanizing experiences in different countries due to illegal migration, warned that migrant smugglers were in danger of prosecution.
He stated that traveling with fake passports and other unlawful documents would attract the long arm of the law.
The Deputy Superintendent of Immigration who came from headquarters noted that females were exposed to illicit exploitations while on irregular migration because their rights were trampled upon.
According to him, many people that left the country cannot be accounted for.
While acknowledging collaboration with other agencies to combat migrant smuggling,
Mr. Mamman told the people that regular migration is legal movement to other countries having proper documentation of migrants.
He warned residents to be careful with migrants smugglers with unbelievable offers and bloated promises.
“A lot of Nigerians have died in the desert, Nigerians have been exploited on the journeys, some have had their organs harvested, some are being killed, some are being tortured, some are being kidnapped, a lot of things happen to travelers who choose to patronize smugglers”
The Deputy Superintendent of Immigration also lamented that illegal migration could lead to organ harvesting.
He told the people that smugglers, use different methods and falsehood to defraud their victims and abandon them anywhere they sensed danger.
On his part, Commandant Nigerian Navy Basic Training School Onne, Rear Admiral Victor Choji who was represented by CAPTAIN AUGUSTIN Okorie encouraged the participants to follow legal ways of migration, saying that illegal migration has become a global challenge.
He told the youths to be diligent and earn a living through legal means instead of seeking to leave the country through illegal means.
“So, let’s begin to sensitize our youths that hard work pays, perseverance pays overtime.
What the Europeans are enjoying today is what their great grandfathers developed”
Reacting to the development, the representative of Onne Council of Chiefs, Chief Godwin Ololuka applauded Nigerian Immigration for the sensitization and pledged to amplify the message in the locality.
High point of the event was public sensitization in the market and motor park.
Source: Gabriel Okechukwu
