NIS prosecutes two Indians for violating Nigerian immigration laws

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) will prosecute two India nationals (names withheld) for violating the Nigerian immigration laws, just as Comptroller General of the service, Muhammad Babandede, has warned migrants to desist from breaking the immigration laws of countries of destination to avoid sanctions.

He said this may result in stopping them from coming to Nigeria or payment of fees chargeable depending on the gravity of the offence committed and what the law stipulated.

Deputy Comptroller of the NIS and the National Public Relations Officer of the agency, James Sunday stated this in a statement, saying the duo were arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos while screening Indians for evacuation from Nigeria as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 446 Indians were evacuated from Nigeria on Saturday, June 20, 2020.

James revealed that the NIS command at the MMIA intercepted the two Indian nationals for illegally entering the nation without proper documentation.

“The Lagos Airport Comptroller of the NIS, Abdullahi Usman at a media briefing stated that the Indians (both male) were arrested during the screening of Indian nationals who were being evacuated from Nigeria through the airport in Lagos.

“Usman disclosed that while profiling the men, it was discovered that they entered Nigeria through the land border and had visa on arrival application approval which they failed to present to Immigration at the border.

“He also disclosed that the men had been in Cotonu, Benin Republic for a month as they had the stamp of that country dated February 9, 2020 when they left and entered Nigeria illegally, as they did not present themselves for immigration checks at the border.”

James added that the Indians, aged 32 and 29 years old, would be prosecuted according to the Nigeria immigration laws to serve as a deterrent to others.