The Comptroller of the Command, Bala Dangana, disclosed that the Sudanese were brought into the state by suspected traffickers who lured them with employment offers.
He said when it dawned on the immigrants that the promise was fake, they were camped in a building in the Ibeju-Lekki area where they were fed only once a day.
Dangana in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Thursday by the command’s media unit, said, “The Nigerian Immigration Service is saddled with the responsibility of controlling both incoming and outgoing migrants. Our officers apprehended 32 irregular migrants from Sudan and Burkina Faso. Through due diligence and intelligence gathering, and information sharing with other relevant security organisations, we were able to apprehend these people who are presently in our custody. This effort is achieved through the support of the Ag. Comptroller General of the NIS, Caroline Adepoju and the support of the state government under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“They (the immigrants) were invited to the country with the promise that they were coming to work in Nigeria and to be paid a weekly salary of $1000. On arrival to Nigeria, they discovered that such promises were fake and they were camped in a house where they were fed once a day and subjected to all sorts of inhumane treatments. Through due diligence information, we were able to track them down and we got them here. Most of them are willing to go back to their country without any force or coercion. We have invited their embassy representatives,” the comptroller added.
The NIS called on Lagosians for useful information to track illegal immigrants entering the state and also sought the governor’s support to launch “The Citizens Connect App.”
According to the NIS, the app will help in analysing and using credible data and information on migration patterns, seasons, and flow.
“The App will be an interactive tool for the government, the NIS, homeowners, employers, employees, and regular citizens for registration, information dissemination, and anonymous upload of pictures and videos on migration infractions thus helping both the NIS and State Government in the deployment of resources and formulating innovative solutions to emerging challenges,” he said during the command’s meeting the governor on Thursday.
