Japa: Beware Of Fake Job Syndicates, Over 1,000 Nigerians Stranded Abroad, IOM Warns

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has cautioned against falling prey to fake job syndicates offering fake jobs abroad, saying that over 1,000 Nigerians who have fallen victim to such are stranded in Europe and other parts of the world.

The IOM Chief of Mission to Nigeria, Mr Laurent de Boeck, who gave the warning on Friday in Maiduguri at an end-of-the-year media briefing highlighting the impact of the mission’s humanitarian response in Nigeria, said that unfortunately, the victims of the job syndicate have legal migration papers with fake employment letters which were usually dissociated by presumed employers overseas.

He said IOM in collaboration with the Federal Government facilitated the return of 4,431 Nigerian migrants from abroad 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.

He said 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 that no fewer than 2,311 out of the total figure of 160,000 surrendered members of Boko Haram terrorists have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society, with about 89 per cent of indigenes of Borno State, while others were spread from across the states of the country according to their choice of location of reintegration.

“About 3,000 former dreaded 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 Organization 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 of Mission to Nigeria said.

He explained that IOM collaborates closely with migrants, displaced populations, Communities, governmental bodies, and inter-governmental and non-governmental partners at both the federal and state levels.

“In 2023, the organisation demonstrated a substantial commitment and impactful interventions across various sectors to address pressing humanitarian needs resulting from conflicts, environmental and climate hazards, and displacement across several states.

“For example, under our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme, IOM was able to reach a remarkable 127,075 individuals across 37 camp locations in Adamawa and Borno states, with significant accomplishments to include the completion of six solar boreholes, the construction of 402 shower and latrine stances, and successful hygiene promotion campaigns reaching 37,266 individuals,” he further said.