Abuja – The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has seized 6,216 Voter Cards and Nigeria’s National Identity Cards from foreigners in different parts of the country.
The Comptroller General of NIS, Isah Idris, disclosed tjis in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said a total of 3, 823 national identity cards and 2,381 voters cards were seized from the foreigners.
He said the items were intercepted across 21 states, mostly border states due to the stepping up of surveillance by men and officers of the NIS.
The NIS boss said that the foreigners arrested and found with the two important documents
have since been “eased out” of the country.
The Comptroller-General spoke at a one-day retreat organised for all state comptrollers in preparation for smooth conduct of the coming general elections.
Idris explained that the two items are reserved only for Nigerian citizens,
This clampdown is one of the steps being employed by the NIS to ensure that foreigners are not allowed to vote in the forthcoming election.
Idris further stated that plans are underway to close the borders before the elections and to continue to mop up both the voters cards and the national identity cards from foreigners.
Idris also used the occasion to brief the media, saying that non-Nigerians will not be allowed to vote during the elections.
“The general election is an opportunity for us to showcase our proficiency in Border Management and intelligent gathering experiences.
“We are all aware of the importance the Federal Government attaches to election generally and in particular, this 2023 general election which ends the eight years tenure of the present administration and by extension marks 24 years of uninterrupted return to democracy in our dear country.
“I also use this opportunity to commend the various Command Comptrollers who eased out irregular migrants in their commands as a result of various Immigration offences.
“This period calls for the highest level of security awareness among all personnel and any acts of compromise shall be treated as sabotage against our national security,” he explained. (vitalnewsngr.com)
