Three suspected traffickers have been arrested while five victims of human trafficking were rescued by the Nigeria Immigration Service in Katsina.
Immigration Controller Katsina State command, Ajisafe Joshua revealed that the mission of the suspects was to cross the border to Niger republic enroute Libya.
He listed the suspects to include Emeka Gideon Okaeri, 39, from Imo State, Obinna Emmanuel, 30, from Abia State and Obumese Murphy Obi, 40, from Imo State.
The rescued victims are Emmanuel Eziuche Justina, 31, from Abia State, Ugochukwu Anthony Chilaka, 28, from Imo State, Okike Chigekwu Daniel from Imo State, Daniel Glory Chinonso, 24, from Abia State and Francis Hillary, 29, from Delta State.
The controller said the leader of the trafficking cartel, Emeka Okaeri, has been living in Libya for the past nine years, adding that he is a frequent traveler crisscrossing Niger, Libya and Nigeria.
He said Emeka represents a trafficking cartel based in Libya and Nigeria that specialises in trafficking and smuggling.