Joint Border Patrol Team Arrests 5 Illegal Immigrants Using ‘Juju’ To Steal Women Wrappers

By Nas Abdulganiy

…Seizes Goods Worth N75million in 70 days, Intercepts 80 Children From Human Traffickers

The Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPD) in North Central Zone has arrested five illegal immigrants who specialized in stealing and duping traders in Nigerian markets with the aid of charm (Juju).

The Coordinator JBPT North Central Zone (Sector 3 Ilorin, Comp Olugboyega Peters (psc) disclosed this on Wednesdayay while briefing newsmen in Ilorin.

Comp Peters said the team arrested the suspects while conducting stop and search along Lokoja- Abuja highway, on February 21 2021 in Mazda 626 with registration number ABJ 187 BF.

He added that they found 15 bundles and 18 pieces of wrappers concealed in bonnet and other component of the vehicle conveying the five women from Zuba Abuja to Lokoja in Kogi State.

According to him, the preliminary investigations revealed that the Five (5) women are from different countries (Chad, Ghana, Mali and Niger Republic). They were found to be illegal immigrants without any means of identification.

”Investigation further revealed that they operates as a syndicate comprising of two groups, specializes in duping and stealing of women wrappers and most times uses charm to perpetrate their crimes. One group operates in Kaduna and the other in Kano axis, prominently on big shops selling women wrapper as their targets. The 2 groups came into the country through Katsina and Seme illegal routes”. Comp Peters explained

”The suspects are-: Fatima Mohammadu (38) from Niger Republic, Judith Kofi (29) from Ghana, Fanta Camara (30) from Mali, Fadima Taore ((37) from Chad, Fatimata Camara (39) from Benin Republic. Fatima Mohammadu (Nigerien) is the leader of the group. She invited and harbored Fadima Taore into the country. A Nigerian, Aisha by name resident in Kano, met Fatima Mohammadu and Judith Kofi in Libya and brought them into Nigeria. Fatimata Camara and Fanta Camara were brought into the country by their Nigerian boyfriends from Benin Republic but were later abandoned in Nigeria. Fatimata Camara, Fatima Mohammadu and Fanta Camara confessed to stealing 15 bundles of the wrappers worth Two Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand Naira N255, 000 in Kogi State.”

The JBPT Coordinator however said the driver of Mazda 626, Mufutau Woye (34) is a Nigerian from Kwara State but reside in Kubwa FCT Abuja as a commercial driver, noting that ”He was only hired to transport them “to and fro” Kogi State.’

Peters hinted that all the suspects will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.

FactualTimes gathered that the team comprising Customs, ONSA, NIA, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Army and other agencies has recorded 128 seizures in from the beginning of 2021.

The seized items includes-
1,584 Foreign Par boiled Rice
48 Units of used vehicles
7 Motor Cycles
1,864 Jerri Cans of 25 liters PMS
18 Jerri Cans of 25 liters AGO
21 Bales of secondhand clothing, 86 and 20 pairs of Men and Women used Cloths
21 Bags 50kg Foreign Sugar
5 Locally made Dane Gun, Jack Knife, Axe and Cutlass
7 Drums of PMS
3 Sets of Human traffickers making the total number of 80 (Specifically Children) already handed over to Immigration and National Agency for Prohibition of trafficking in persons (NAPTIP)
6 Illegal immigrants
60,000 Currency in CFA
948 Cartons of foreign tomato paste

Comp Peters however clarified that more seizures domiciled at various locations within the Sector covering Kogi, Niger, Kwara and Benue state that could not be transferred to Sector 3 Headquarters due to distance and logistics problem.

He said the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the Seized Goods is N75, 851, 300