NIS arrests ISIS supporters in Kano

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is no doubt keen on getting to the roots of a wanted ISIS chief, Ahmed Al Assir got a visa to visit Nigeria, even as it again denied playing any part in the process that led to the issuance of a Nigerian Visa to Al Assir in Lebanon.

The service revealed yesterday that it had arrested two men in Kano connected to Al Assir, who he was coming to visit in Nigeria.

According to the Comptroller-General of the NIS, Martin Abeshi, both men were immediately handed over to the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno (rtd).

Abeshi, while speaking at a news conference in Abuja, said “From the record available, the Immigration Service did not issue that visa. It might be the officials of the foreign affairs ministry because they also issue visa on our behalf.”

Abeshi however, said the NIS went into action to arrest those connected to Al Assir immediately it gathered an intelligence that he was coming to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the service has also threatened to publish the names of former ministers, governors and members of the National and State Assemblies who are illegally in possession of official and diplomatic passports soon.

Abeshi issued the threat while unfolding his programme for the agency in Abuja, yesterday.

Read also: FG orders 21 ex-govs, 42 ex-ministers to return passports

He said, “I am advising that those who have not returned these facilities [diplomatic and official passports] should bring them because very soon, I will publish the names of those who collected official and diplomatic passports.

“I am not going to do it now; I want to respect them because they were once statesmen in this country, but I am advising that they should bring those passports in their possession to the Immigration office now,” he said.

The NIS boss noted that the passports could also be submitted to Comptrollers of the State commands all over the country who have been mandated to collect the documents from the illegal holders.

He however, revealed that over 200 passports have been retrieved since the directive was given.

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