NIS Warns C’River Border Communities on Dangers of Aiding Illegal Immigrants, Irregular Emigration

Bassey Inyang in Calabar

The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Mfum Border Command, has warned the people, and residents of border communities in central, and southern parts of Cross River State to stop aiding and abetting illegal immigration, and illegal migration through their communities.

The Mfum Border Command gave the admonition when it recently embarked on an extensive sensitization of dwellers of the border communities of Ikom, Etung, and Akpabuyo Local Government Areas of Cross River State on the dangers of smuggling migrants into Nigeria, and helping irregular immigrations.
A press release to this effect by the spokesperson of the Command, DSI, Eba Akwaji, made available to THISDAY in Calabar, indicated that officers and men of the NIS, Mfum Command, took their exercise to strategic places in Ikom, Etung and Akpabuyo
The statement said: “the sensitisation exercise took officers and men of the command to the various locations including Ajassor Mission area, Ajassor Junction, Agbokim Water Falls, Waterside, Last Motor Junction, Ikom Motor Park/Market, and Mfum Baggage area.”

According to the release, the sensitisation exercise which was carried out within the week in border communities in the central and southern parts of Cross River State, had messages on the dangers of encouraging illegal immigrants, and embarking on illegal migration out of the country.
“The Comptroller Mfum Border Command, A.J Umoh who addressed the crowd at Ajassor Junction spoke on the dangers of illegal immigration to include Child Labour, Organ harvesting, forced labour, loss of life, loss of money, kidnapping, medical risk, et cetera.

“He advised young Nigerians to engage in skills acquisition and formal education for those that can afford it, nothing that, Japa, is not the solution to the challenging economy in Nigeria today.
“He emphasized that smuggling of migrants is a transactional crime that undermines the safety of migrants for material benefits,” the release said.

The document stated further that “the visiting CSI. E. E Okoro, and his team from the immigration service headquarters was also present during the sensitisation exercise, and advised the public at Ikang on the need to migrate safely, orderly, and regularly on the verge to migration.”

Continuing the release said: “DCI. U. Obot in his presentation at the Mfum Baggage area advised Nigerians who intend to travel out of the country to do so by acquiring valid travel documents, and apply through the embassy before doing so, advices that citizens should not be enticed into embarking on any journey, but a genuine reason.

“He said the sensitization will continue as the command reaches out to other key stakeholders.”