Immigration on red alert as Tuaregs from Chad, Benin flood Nigeria*

Following the influx of Tuaregs from the Republic of Chad and Benin into the northern part of the country, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has placed its officers on red alert.

The foreigners, most of whom are believed by the NIS to be criminals, have caused tension in the northern part of the country, especially in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kaduna states, the route where most foreigners usually enter Nigeria.

An Immigration officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “The number of foreigners, especially from the Republic of Benin and Chad, has overwhelmed us. We have been placed on red alert, but how many are we to man our porous borders?

“We don’t even have the capacity to do much. We need assistance from other agencies, but our management is pretending that we are on top of the situation. We are not on top of anything. We don’t have helicopters for aerial patrols and no drones to supplement.

“How many are in the NIS workforce? The illegal immigrants are trooping into our country daily. They are coming in droves. The problem is that they look like our people, especially Fulani. It is a very difficult and worrisome situation.

“The federal government needs to step in urgently because most of these foreigners are members of terrorist groups, especially the new group that is in the country.

“Many of them are bandits and kidnappers. These people are responsible for killings and the taking over of farmlands. They are the ones causing serious food scarcity in Nigeria. I have played my part by speaking to you and raising the alarm about the influx of these foreigners who mean no good for the country. I say unequivocally that the NIS has no capacity to contain the influx.

“We need assistance from other security agencies because what will befall Nigeria is unimaginable, unless something drastic is done.”

In a memo by the NIS Kaduna State Command, signed by the Assistant Comptroller of Immigration for the Comptroller of the Immigration Service, Muazu Aliyu, it was stated that there has been heightened movement of Tuareg (Arabs) into the country.

It said, “Reports indicate an influx of Tuareg from the Republic of Niger and Chad into some northern parts of the country.

“They came into the country under the cover of selling traditional herbal medicine and they speak Fulfulde language. This development has the potential to cause apprehension, particularly with the issue of banditry bedeviling the state. In view of the above, all officers/men, especially those at the local government level, should intensify efforts, properly identify, monitor, and report any suspicious activities to the command,” the memo read.