IOM Cautions Against Foreign Fake Job Syndicates

International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has cautioned Nigerians against falling prey to fake job syndicates offering jobs abroad, saying over 1,000 Nigerians who had fallen victims were stranded in Europe and other parts of the world. 

IOM chief of mission to Nigeria, Mr Laurent de Boeck who gave the warning yesterday in Maiduguri at the end of year media briefing highlighting the impact of the Mission’s humanitarian response in Nigeria, said victims of job syndicates 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 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 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.