Insurgency: FG to register foreigners at LGA level

On June 27, 20163:42 am

As Immigration wants access to Interpol database

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA—Following intelligence reports showing the high-level participation of foreigners in insurgent activities as well as herdsmen attacks in the country, the federal government has said it would soon begin registration of all foreigners in their local government areas of residence.

It said the move would enhance its database of all aliens in the country and make for their easier tracking in the event of any security threat.

Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, (CGI), Muhammad Babandede, stated this at the weekend in Abuja when the Ag. Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, paid him a courtesy visit.

This was even as the Immigration boss asked for access to INTERPOL’s I-24/7 portal in order to enhance its capacity to contribute to winning the war against terrorism, insurgency and other organized crimes.

Service Public Relations Officer, Ekpedeme King, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, quoted the CGI as saying that such access was imperative, since the NIS provides the frontline officers at nation’s land, sea and air borders in the security architecture of Nigeria as in other countries.

“Therefore, access to the INTERPOL database will improve our border security considerably. The INTERPOL I-24/7 network enables the 190 member countries to search and cross-check data of suspected criminals, wanted persons, stolen or lost travel documents within seconds,” Babandede said.

The INTERPOL I-24/7 is installed at all 190 National Central Bureaus which are under the Police.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/insurgency-fg-register-foreigners-lga-level/