The Zamfara State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has repatriated 450 illegal immigrants residing in various parts of the state from last year to date.
Briefing newsmen in his office yesterday, the state comptroller of NIS, Mr Shehuri Sadiq Baba said the development was part of the “mopping up exercise” to ease out all illegal immigrants in Nigeria in line with the Transformation Agenda of the present administration.
Shehuri noted that Nigeria is at its critical stage of political activities to elect the nation’s president and other sensitive officers, but regretted that “many irregular immigrants are discovered to be actively involved in the nation’s politics”.
He added that the National Electoral Law frowns at the illegal political participation of foreigners, saying unfortunately, “many of such illegal immigrants are confirmed to have in their possession, the Nigerian National Identity Cards and Permanent Voter Cards”.
Mr Shehuri noted that the ECOWAS Protocol posts for valid documents for sister citizens to travel freely and settle in another sister state, saying that “Nigeria should not be an exception”.
He warned that the mopping up exercise has come to stay as it is going to be continuous in accordance with global practices, appealing to community leaders and other security agencies to maintain the cooperation and assistance they have been rendering for the success of the exercise.