Nigeria repatriates 22,000 illegal immigrants to Niger, Chad, Cameroon- Minister

The federal government is keen on securing Nigeria’s borders.

The Federal Government on Friday said it had repatriated more than 22,000 illegal immigrants.

The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, said this while fielding questions from newsmen in Kano.

He said the measure was taken following discovery that some of the activities of insurgents were master-minded by some illegal immigrants.

‘’Just yesterday, 18 of such aliens were repatriated from Bauchi State. The only alternative for us is repatriating them since they cannot regularise their stay,” he said.

He said the affected aliens were repatriated to Niger Republic, Cameroon and Chad.

According to him, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had taken stringent measures to check the ugly trend, adding that anyone found without relevant document would be repatriated.

“The ministry has, in collaboration with the National Boundary Commission, establish legally recognised routes in the country.

“We have identified 84 of such legal routes and deployed many personnel, especially in the northern planks, where insurgency has become rampant and the tendency to move across the borders is high,’’ he said.

He revealed that the Federal Government was in the process of acquiring appropriate technologies, which would be deployed for surveillance at the borders.

‘’We are also in the process of acquiring new operational patrol vehicles to enhance security at the various borders.

‘’We believe that a combination of electronic surveillance and human component, will secure the borders,” he said.

The minister, who was in Kano to inspect some facilities under his ministry, said he had discussion with the state governor, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, on the possibility of relocating Kano Central Prison.

‘’We have agreed that I will come back and see the facility myself, examine its desirability or otherwise, for us to collaborate,’’ he added.

(NAN)