Borders: FG refuses entry for 1,111 illegal migrants in 2 months

The Federal Government has refused entry for 1,111 illegal migrants in the past two months of the ongoing joint border operations just as it has removed 728 others from the country.

The Comptroller General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede at a joint briefing with Customs in Abuja said the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has also stopped many Nigerians on irregular migration since August 20 when the operation began.

He said, “Before this operation, people entered into the country freely. But this operation has enhanced the ECOWAS rule on entry and exit of persons.

Coordinator of the Exercise at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Aliyu Ndagi said ONSA has observed cooperation from members of the public; “the operation has promoted interagency harmony and the agencies involved have been directed to use only minimum force in the process.”

The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) who spoke on how the operation is impinging on the fundamental rights of movement, said, “When it comes to security all other laws take a backseat. Nigeria must survive first then we can begin to consider your rights.”

Speaking on the gains he said: “As it is in the last report, our consumption of petroleum products has reduced by 10.2 million litres which means that it has continuously been smuggled to our neighboring countries.”