Victor Ezeja
AdminThe International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has warned Nigerians against falling prey to the antics of syndicates offering phantom jobs abroad, disclosing that no fewer than 1,000 Nigerians who had been so swindled are currently stranded in Europe and other parts of the world.
The United Nations’ migration agency pointed out that while these victims of job syndicates have legal migration papers to their countries of destination, the employment letters are fake hence are usually rejected by presumed employers overseas when presented.
IOM chief of mission to Nigeria, Laurent de Boeck sounded this warning yesterday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, during the end of year press conference where he highlighted the impact of the Mission’s humanitarian response in Nigeria, said
He said IOM in collaboration with the federal government facilitated the return of 4,431 Nigerian migrants in 2023 and supported their reintegration, adding that a total of 2,853 individuals received reintegration assistance, engaging in socio-economic opportunities of their choice.
Boeck disclosed that through the nine humanitarian hubs in the North-East, IOM provided essential services to 6,773 individuals from 199 humanitarian organisations, fostering collaboration and coordination.
He further said no fewer than 2,311 out of the 160,000 surrendered members of Boko Haram terrorists had been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society, with about 89 percent indigenes of Borno State, while others were from across other states of the country according to their choice of location of reintegration.
“About 3,000 former combatants and their associates are still waiting for judgement to be conducted in Abuja by relevant courts. IOM is calling for the separation of non-combatants from combatants so that the combatants can face justice, while the non-combatants are reintegrated.
“Since establishment of IOM in Nigeria in 2001, the organisation has maintained an active presence, with a workforce spanning five sub-offices in Benin City, Lagos, Yola, Katsina and Maiduguri, along with the main office in Abuja. We are operating in 30 states and the federal capital,” the IOM chief said.
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