The desperate nature of the upcoming elections is beginning to show its ugly trends as NIS seizes temporary and temporary Nigerian voter cards from Nigeriens staying illegally in Jigawa State.
Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) arrested and paraded the illegal immigrants yesterday in Dutse the state capital.
The Comptroller of the NIS, Mr. Isa Jere, confirmed the arrest and said that the seven Nigeriens and a Malian entered the country illegally.
The service, we would recall had arrested and repatriated 430 illegal immigrants in Jigawa between January and November this year alone.
Mr. Isa said that 90% of the arrested immigrants were from Niger Republic, while others were from Cameroun, Chad, and Mali. He stated that the service has intensified its mop-up operation to get rid of illegal immigrants in the state before the commencement of the 2015 general elections.
“We are committed to repatriating illegal immigrants in our midst because they don’t have right or have any business to participate in our elections” he said
The comptroller also said that the state’s command had seized 20 voters’ cards from Nigerien immigrants.
He said that 11 out of the 20 were permanent voters’ cards while the remaining were temporary ones.
The NIS chief said that his officers and men were vigilant to prevent foreigners from participating in the forthcoming general elections.