THE Niger State command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested now fewer than 32 illegal immigrants comprising 17 Nigeriens and 15 Malians who allegedly sneaked into the country through illegal routes.
The state’s comptroller of the NIS, Mamman Ango, disclosed this on Friday while parading the illegal immigrants before newsmen at the agency’s headquarters in Minna.
He noted the recent launch of the joint border patrol exercise by the Federal Government which, he said, was being coordinated by the office of the National Security Adviser, Brigadier-General Babagana Monguno (rtd).
Ango said the migrants were arrested by the joint border patrol squad codenamed Ex-Swift Response comprising operatives of other security agencies responsible for border management and internal security.
According to the comptroller, Sector 3 of the joint border operation located in Kontagora Local Government axis of the state intercepted the irregular migrants, all males, consisting 17 Nigeriens and 15 Malians who allegedly sneaked into the country through illegal routes.
He said all the illegal migrants would be repatriated to their countries of origin through the Kamba Control Post in Kebbi State.
The command, therefore, implored the general public to provide useful information with a view to ridding the state and the country of the menace of illegal immigrants.