NIS arrests 145 illegal immigrants

Nigeria Immigration Service in Oyo State hasarrested 145 illegal immigrants in the state.

The state Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. James Esan, stated this while addressing journalists in Ibadan on Sunday.

Esan, who said the immigrants would be repatriated, noted that they were among the 500 persons arrested in Egbeda, Ido and Akinyele local governments of the state.

Those to be repatriated are 80 Nigeriens, 15 Beninoise, 16 Togolese and  four Ghanians.

The Comptroller said aside the 145 persons that would be repatriated, 30 others, who came into the country through recognised entry points, were alsoarrested.

Meanwhile, the Katsina State command of the Nigeria Immigration Service on Monday said it had repatriated 414 illegal immigrants in the last 10 days.

The NIS Comptroller, Alhaji Umar Bulama, said this at a briefing in Katsina.

The repatriation, he said, was carried out from June 12 to 23, adding that those deported were mostly from Niger Republic.

According to him, the 30 immigrants will be registered before they are released.

Esan said,  “You come into our country without valid travel documents and through unapproved routes. This means you are here for a cause that may be injurious to our security.

“I want to appeal to Nigerians having these people in their houses to reportanyone, who does not have any form of registration with immigration”.

The state NIS spokesman, Mr. Kazeem Shodipe, said the routine raids wouldcontinue.

He added, “While we may not be able to stop anyone with an honest purpose from entering the country, we also need to be on the alert in ensuring safety for all”.