By Tina Hassan Abeku, Guardian Newspaper
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has again intercepted ten Nigerians trying to cross over to Cameroon en route Ibaka border in Akwa Ibom State.
The ten persons were said to be headed for Cameroon despite the border closure in the face of COVID-19 pandemic were taken into custody by officials of Immigration and Navy at the border and handed over to health officials to ascertain their health status before being returned to their localities.
In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the service, Sunday James Friday in Abuja, the Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede said the agency will step border patrol.
He urged personnel of the service to be at the alert of any unauthorised movement to reduce communal and state spread of coronavirus.
He called on Nigerians around the border communities to avoid aiding movements across the border at this period to avoid prosecution in line with extant laws of the service.
“The Comptroller General of the NIS, Muhammad Babandede has directed that intense patrol be stepped up by the operatives.
“Commands at the border were equally directed to be more at alert to movements around the border to ensure no migrant either from within or from outside the country escapes arrest, since the border closure is still in force until the further directive is received from the Government,” the statement reads.
Two out of the ten that embarked on the trip from Eshiet village of Uruan Local Government Area of the Akwa Ibom State are from Cross River state.
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