The Nigerian Immigration Service, or NIS, has urged citizens who hide illegal immigrants to stop or face the full wrath of the law if caught.
Emmanuel Akinrinsola, Comptroller of Immigration Service, Delta State Command, issued the warning in Asaba during an interactive session with the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
While stating that business as usual will no longer be possible, Akinrinsola cautioned that the Immigration Act of 2015 makes it a serious violation for any Nigerian to hide illegal immigrants, emphasising the need of reporting any suspicious foreigner to the immigration office.
According to him:
‘’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 government areas of the state commands, so the issue of saying that I am ignorant of the law, I didn’t know that this man is from Cotonou, I didn’t know he is from Niger, it doesn’t arise. Once you harbour an illegal immigrant, the cost of that repatriation is going to be borne by whosoever harbours the illegal foreigner. So, it is a punishable offence under our law for you to harbour someone you don’t know.’’
cc: Daily Post Ng
