The Nigeria Immigration Service rescued 23 victims of human trafficking and other forms of exploitation while repatriating 99 foreigners for irregular migration between July and August 2026.
The figures were contained in the latest operational report of the NIS prepared for the Office of the National Security Adviser.
According to the report, seven victims were rescued in July, while another 16 were rescued in August following interventions at different locations, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Seme Border, Baji Patrol Post and other locations.
Some of the rescued victims were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further care and investigation.
The NIS also identified four persons of interest during the period, three in July and one in August.
The service said the August case involved a potential trafficking victim who was referred to NAPTIP.
99 foreigners repatriated
The immigration service also repatriated 99 foreigners during the two months over irregular migration.
The report showed that 90 foreigners were repatriated in July, while nine others were repatriated in August.
The July figure comprised 38 nationals of Côte d’Ivoire, 33 Cameroonians, 15 Pakistanis, four Nigeriens, four Chadians, two Burkinabè, two Central Africans and one national of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The NIS said the cases were primarily linked to irregular migration.
NIS busts QNET-linked syndicate
The service also disclosed that it dismantled a fraudulent transnational organised crime syndicate linked to the QNET/Ignite group during the period.
According to the report, the operation resulted in the arrest of the syndicate leaders and 11 facilitators in Lagos and Ogun states.
The immigration authorities also recorded the arrest of a stowaway at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in August.
The NIS said the operations were part of efforts to strengthen border security, regulate migration and tackle transnational organised crime.
It added that its enforcement activities during the period included the detection of document fraud, arrests, prosecutions and other interventions aimed at protecting Nigeria’s borders and preventing the exploitation of migrants.
The service said the operations were also designed to improve migration management and contribute to national security.
