Comptroller of Immigration Service, Delta State Command, Emmanuel Akinrinsola, has raised concern over illegal immigrants in the state, warning those harbouring them to desist from it or face the full wrath of the law when caught.
Akinrinsola gave the warning at the command headquarters in Asaba during an interactive session with the executives and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council.
Akinrinsola stated that the Nigerian Immigration Act of 2015 has made it a punishable offence for any Nigerian to harbour illegal immigrants, stressing that one must report any suspicious foreigner to the Immigration Service.
“We are one of the few agencies of government present at the third tier of government. We have divisional immigration officers in all the 25 local councils of the state commands. So, somebody saying that he is ignorant of the law, or he didn’t know that this man is from Cotonou, or he didn’t know he is from Niger doesn’t arise.”
Once you harbour an illegal immigrant, the cost of that repatriation is going to be borne by whosoever harbours the foreigner. So, it is a punishable offence under our law for you to harbour someone you don’t know,” he said.
The Comptroller said the interactive session with journalists provided an opportunity to promote synergy between the management team of the Service and members of the fourth estate of the realm; and also to inform them of the reforms going on in the Nigerian Immigration Service.
