Nigeria Immigration Service claims arrest of several ‘wanted suspects’ with border closure

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, on Sunday justified the decision of joint security agencies to close Nigerian borders.

He said several “wanted criminal suspects” had been arrested following the exercise that started recently.

The NIS chief spoke at the closing of the service’s management retreat in Lagos.

Babandede said the new border management strategy unveiled by the Muhammadu Buhari administration would streamline activities at the borders and ensure that people exiting or entering the country utilise the official border posts with the right travel documents.

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The NIS chief said the government was not shutting the borders to bar people from carrying out legitimate business but needed to ensure that appropriate things were done the legitimate way, in line with rules governing border security control and management.

His words: “To the Immigration, the border drill, which led to this partial closure, is very important. One, it ensures people pass through the recognised entry portals. Even our ECOWAS members have been told to come to Nigeria anytime they wish but they must come through a recognised point of entry, provided you have the right travel documents.”

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