Immigration Service Warns Ogun Residents Against Deadly Irregular Migration

The Nigeria Immigration Service has raised alarm over the rising number of Nigerians dying in the course of illegal migration to Europe and North America, describing the trend as a preventable national tragedy

Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, issued the warning during an anti-smuggling sensitisation programme held at the Service’s Ogun State Command headquarters in Abeokuta. She urged residents to resist the lure of irregular migration, stressing that most victims end up facing exploitation, forced labour, sexual abuse, or death along dangerous routes.

Represented by senior officer Samson Joseph, Nandap said the government is not opposed to legitimate travel but insisted that Nigerians must follow proper procedures valid passports, genuine visas, and verified destinations. She blamed the growing dependence on fake agents and shortcuts for the rising number of casualties.

“Too many young Nigerians are paying with their lives because they believe illegal routes are cheaper or faster. What they find instead are traffickers, slavery, and death,” she said.

Ogun State Comptroller, CIS Olufunke Odusote, who was represented by Deputy Comptroller Kayode Adedigba, said the Command is tightening surveillance and working with other security agencies, including Amotekun and the Police, to disrupt migrant-smuggling networks. She identified social media as a major tool used by fraudsters to advertise fake visas, jobs, and study offers.

Odusote also warned residents that life abroad is not as glamorous as portrayed online: “Many Nigerians who leave illegally end up trapped in prostitution rings, hard labour, or detention centres. There is no freedom in that. Legal travel is the only safe option.”

The sensitisation campaign included community outreach, public lectures, and distribution of educational materials on safe migration.

Illegal migration from Nigeria has surged in recent years, driven largely by unemployment, insecurity, and rising living costs. Young, educated citizens now dominate the wave, often targeting the UK, EU, and Canada in search of better opportunities.

The NIS insists that while citizens are free to pursue opportunities abroad, doing so outside approved channels exposes them to trafficking syndicates, extortion, and often, death.