By Ibironke Ariyo
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Illela Border Command in Sokoto State, has confirmed the repatriation of 62 Malians through the Illela checkpoint.
Command Controller Tony Akuneme, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, added that the victims were 51 males and 11 females.
Akuneme said the Malians were escorted from the SNI headquarters in Abuja to the Illela border post in Sokoto by a team of eight police officers led by Inspector Mamoud Sadiq in two buses.
Akuneme said the team arrived at the border post around 8pm. Friday.
Upon arrival, I instructed the Assistant Controller in charge of Human Resources, Adamu Mshelia, who was also in charge of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit (ANTISOM), to oversee the proper documentation of the returnees.
After due process, the irregular migrants were handed over to Niger Republic police officers at the Birnin Konni checkpoint.
In Birnin Konni, the migrants went through another round of checks and documentation before being received by the commissioner, the regional police chief, he added.
In a related development, the head of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) indicated that construction of large and small Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) was ongoing at Illela checkpoint.
He added that the modernization, spearheaded by the Comptroller General of NIS, Kemi Nandap, was part of its efforts to eradicate irregular migration across the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The construction company began to clean the site and demolish some deteriorated and unusable structures.
“We thank the CG for this improvement, which is part of its commitment to stop irregular and prohibited migration across the country,” he said.
Akuneme assured the public that the situation remains calm in the Illela and Tangaza areas and that military and security personnel are still present to deal with the threats posed by the Lakurawa bandits.
Immigration service repatriates 62 Mali nationals Malians
