As the clampdown on illegal immigrants across the nation continues, Lagos State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested 5 Chinese amongst other African nationals that were arrested without a valid visa.
Other nationals include: 25 Nigeriens, 33 Guineans, 10 Togolese, 11 Benenoise and two Ghanaians.
Ever since the arrest of a Chadian on the grounds of terrorism in Ijora area of Lagos, security agencies in the state have increased the clampdown on illegal immigrants.
While parading some of the illegal aliens, Lagos Command Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Rasheed Odupeyin said NIS had issued an order to ensure that the bio metrics of every illegal immigrant was recorded.
“The recent clamp down is not restricted, it cuts across every immigrant without a valid visa. Every immigrant with a visa that is subject to regularisation automatically gets it renewed.
For the West African nationals, they would be given 3 months visa upon their entry and they are expected to get a resident or work permit.We have started storing their data if they ever find their way back to this country and are caught, they would be made to face stiffer sanction not just deportation.”
Some of the illegal immigrants who spoke to Daily Sunlamented that it was lack of information that stopped them from regularising their stay.
According to Abdul, a Guinean, no one stopped us when we were entering the country and besides when we got here, we were told that it was not necessary.
“My brother has lived in Nigeria for 8 years without documents and he was never arrested. I wasn’t lucky because there are so many people out there, who do not have the documents.” Another illegal immigrants, Mohammed from Republic of Niger said this was the second time NIS arrested him.
“I just came back to Nigeria after I was deported two months ago. This time around if I return, I will ensure that I do the right thing.” Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Nigerien community in Lagos, Alhaji Iliyasu Ismalia has said all those who were repatriated are Nigeriens without a valid visa.
“We are currently sensitising our people in Niger Republic on the need to have a valid visa. Nigerians are good people that you can barely spot the difference between an immigrant and a Nigerian.”
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