NIS Retrieves 436 Voter Cards, 192 National ID Cards From Foreigners

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said 436 voter cards and 192 national identity slips have been seized from foreigners in the last six months.

Joshua Ajisafe, Katsina State Comptroller of Immigration, who spoke at the inauguration of the NIS operational border patrol base at Mazanya, on Thursday, said 729 irregular migrants were also repatriated by the command between the second and the third quarter of the year.

Ajisafe said the state command intercepted 10 suspected human traffickers; rescued 162 victims of human trafficking during the same period; denied 1,203 foreigners admission into the country for lack of travel documents, and 411 Nigerians were refused departure for not having valid travel documents.

According to the comptroller, the state boasts of an estimated 203km borderline with Niger Republic, which makes Kastina a major illegal trans-border migration route in the Nigeria.

He disclosed that the command recorded the arrival of 176,724 valid travel document holders and departure of 49,780 others within the period.

Ajisafe attributed the modest achievements largely to support from the NIS headquarters and effective synergy with sister security agencies in the state.

He said: “The command was able to curtail the influx of irregular immigrants with the help of border corps officers deployed to man some of the illegal routes.

“The establishment of the two hinterland checkpoints at Charanchi and Kankara highways in the state also helped in this regard.”