- Most of the illegal migrants are from Niger Republic
The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, says that its Service operatives has arrested 32 illegal migrants in the border communities in Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria.
Alhaji Babandede, who said he will protect Nigeria’s border communities against illegal migrants as well as threats to insecurity, told Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, that some of the illegal immigrants from Niger and they cross the borders to perpetuate their unlawful transactions.
Babandede, who was on a courtesy visit to Governor Masari at Government House Katsina, warned officers and men of the Immigration Service that any of them found aiding illegal migrants would face stiffer punishments.
Babandede said that the NIS is engaging traditional institutions in the state to help since they are closer to people at the grassroots.
The Comptroller-General also sympathized with the government and people of Katsina State over the wanton killings by bandits.
Governor Masari explained that Katsina citizens are living in a very peculiar situation and that the challenges before the Comptroller of Immigration are the issue of how to identify someone from Niger and somebody from the neighbouring communities of Katsina State.