BOKO HARAM: DEPORTED NIGERIEN VOWS TO RETURN

One
of the aliens from Niger Republic who simply gave his name as Amadu has vowed
to return to Nigeria despite his deportation.

Said
he: “I am from the Republic of Niger. I came in through Kebbi State. I came on
my own. I always pass through there because no one will stop you. I do not have
the passport. I will still find my way back when they throw me out.”

He
was one of the 57 irregular immigrants from Niger Republic, deported yesterday
by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos Command.

Parading
some of the irregular immigrants, Comptroller of Immigration, Mr Rasheed
Odupeyin, who is incharge of the Command, said the 57 were among the 92
suspected illegal  immigrants arrested during the raid by the police over
the weekend and handed over to them on Monday.

He
said the suspects were arrested in a joint operation between state police
command and the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Offenses at the weekend
from various parts of the state.

The
police in response to the recent arrest of some foreigners who had links with
Boko Haram, ordered the arrest and screening of all illegal immigrants in
Nigeria especially from Chad.

Odupeyin,
however, said that he did not know how  police got the suspects, adding
that “it was the police that raided and handed them over to us.

I am
sure that they must have screened them and kept those who committed offence in
the police custody for interrogation.

“They
brought them here on Monday, so we had to screen them and send them back to their
countries. We feed them and along the line they might fall sick, so we have to
be responsible for that again.

The
NIS boss also confirmed that no weapon was found on anyone but he cannot say
whether the suspects had link with a terrorist group or not. Odupeyin stated
that of the 92, 17 were found to be after thorough screening and the service
would return them to police for further investigation to ascertain their
culpability or otherwise.

One
of the suspects who hails from the Republic of  Niger, who simply gave his
name as Amadu, claimed that he came to Lagos from Mali through border town of
Kamba, in Kebbi state without having any criminal record.

The
suspect who admitted that he has no document claimed to be a water vendor in
Surulere.

He
said, “I am from the republic of Niger. I came in through Kebbi state. I came
on my own.

“I
always pass through there because no one will stop you.

“I
sell borehole water to people. I live in Surulere. I do not have passport. I
will still find my way back when they throw me out.

“I am
not a Boko haram member, I am afraid of them.”

Another
suspected irregular immigrant, Musa Abdul who claimed he is from Segu in Mali,
said he came into Nigeria through Cotonu and that he is documented.

“They
asked me for my passport which I gave them. I sell ice cream in Nigeria.

“I
came into this country with my passport but when police caught me I had no
passport on me. I have explained to them that my passport is at home but they
refused.

“I
came to Nigeria in 2009 and in 2012; I left to see my family and returned early
this year.”

Meanwhile,
Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro has disclosed that over 20,000 illegal
immigrants have been deported from Nigeria, adding that 274 of these aliens
were sent packing to their respective countries in the recent times.

The
Minister disclosed this in Kano, while emphasizing the concern of the Federal
Government over the porous nature of Nigeria’s borders against the background
of the present security challenges in the country.

Also
the Department of State Services (DSS), said yesterday in Lagos it impounded a
lorry-load of foreigners moving into the metropolis from the northern part of
the country.

The
25 suspected illegal aliens including the vehicle that conveyed them were
handed over to the officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service by the
officials from the Department of the State  Services.

A
source at the DSS told Daily Sun that due to security situation in the country
the DSS took it upon themselves to restrict movement of suspected people by
searching their vehicles and asking some vital questions.

The
source said they would impound any suspected vehicle and invite the occupants
for interrogation.