Razaq Bamidele
Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has ordered strict monitor and surveillance of the nation’s sea border.
This, according to him, is to ensure no migrant either from within or outside the country escapes arrest, since the border closure is still in force until further directive is received from government.
The order became necessary as the combined effort of the NIS operatives and the Navy again intercepted 10 Nigerians heading to Cameroon amidst border closure from Cross Rivers State.
He stressed the need to avert communal and State to state spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying the NIS may be forced to prosecute any future violator of the government directive on border closure.
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Few days ago, 12 Nigerians were arrested and refused departure to Cameroon from the border post in the state.
This fresh set of Nigerians according to a statement by the NIS National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller, Sunday James embarked on the journey from Eshiet Village, Adadia Control post Axis in Uruan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom state.
While two of them hailed from Cross Rivers State, the other eight were from Akwa-Ibom state.
The migrants had been handed over to the health officials for medical checks to ascertain their COVID-19 status and other related ailments.
They were returned to their original localities after clearance by the health officials and profiling by the NIS Operatives.
“Nigerians around the border communities are advised to avoid aiding the movements across the border at this period to avoid prosecution in line with extant laws of the service” the NIS warned.