In a bid to stop foreign mercenaries from infiltrating the planned nationwide hunger protest scheduled for August 1, the Nigeria Immigration Service ( NIS) has tightened security at the nation’s borders.
The improved surveillance and patrol at the air, land and sea borders, according the the service, is a quick and far-reaching measure aimed at curtailing the security threats envisaged during the planned protest.
The Comptroller-General, NIS, Kemi Nandap, gave the order to all zonal heads, state command comptrollers, and divisional Immigration officers (DIOS) of the service across the country.
A statement by the service spokesman, DCI Kenneth Udo, said the directive was to ensure that foreign elements do not come into the country to participate in the protests.
According to the statement, all concerned have been directed to be extra vigilant and intensify surveillance.
The immigration boss noted that in keeping with the responsibility of safeguarding the nation’s gateways placed on the shoulders of the service, officers, especially heads of border commands, are tasked to rise to the occasion by ensuring that no foreign element can take advantage of the protest to distabilise the country.
She directed temporary suspension of all leave applications and charged officers to exercise utmost professionalism and patriotism in the discharge of their duties during and after the protest.
She assured all Nigerians of the service’s preparedness to safeguard the nation’s borders towards enhancing national security.