NIS to repatriate 510 irregular migrants

Akpan Umoh

The Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Akwa Ibom State Command, Mrs Francisca Dakat, says the command will repatriate 510 irregular migrants who were apprehended during the mop up exercise from the country.

Dakat said this on Thursday in Uyo while briefing newsmen after a-two day mop up exercise conducted in three Local Government Areas of the state.

She said that the exercise was in compliance with the mandate of the Service, especially as the elections were fast approaching to ensure non Nigerians are not involved in the country’s electoral process.

The comptroller explained that the mop up exercise took place in Eket, Ibeno and Etinan local government areas.

According to her, those to be repatriated are; 255 Ghanaians, 213 Cameroonians and 42 Nigeriens, who were apprehended during the mop up exercise in the state.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service in continuation of her mop-up exercise has embarked on another raid, with the view to cover the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.

“The Mop-up exercise which took place in Ibeno, Eket and Etinan Local Government Areas on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, 2023 had a total number of 612 suspected irregular migrants, who were apprehended at different communities of these Local Government Areas.

“The exercise featured profiling of these migrants, 510 were confirmed to be Non Nationals of African descents; 213 Cameroonians, 255 Ghanaians and 42 Nigeriens,” Dakat said.

Dakat added that the mop up exercise would be a continuous one to cover the 31 LGAs in line with the directive of the Comptroller General of NIS, Mr Isah Idris, that comptrollers should intensify efforts to combat the reocurring trend of irregular migration.

The comptroller said that during the raid, some of the irregular migrants apprehended were found with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which were seized accordingly.

She called on Akwa Ibom people not to harbour irregular migrants, rather inform the Nigeria Immigration Service of the presence of Non-Nigerians in their domain and desist from harbouring them, as the law is no respecter of any person.

“The Command will take decisive action against anyone who violates Immigration extant laws,” she said.

The comptroller commended the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, the Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel and other security agencies for their unwavering support in the execution of the mop up exercise in the state.