The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has has said the government will no longer fold its arms and watch illegal migrants perpetrate criminal activities against Abians.
The governor therefore tasked the Nigeria Immigration Service and other Military and Para-Military formations to take a deeper look at the activities of these elements, insisting that they have become inimical to the state and her people.
Receiving in audience a delegation of the Deputy Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service Anthonia Opara in his office at Government House Umuahia on Tuesday, the governor noted that these illegal immigrants especially from Chad and Niger Republic have continued to perpetrate criminal activities along the Lokpanta and Isuikwuato axis, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka told ABN TV in a press statement.
According to the statement, the governor has received credible intelligence on the criminal activities of the gang and will share these intelligence with the Nigeria Immigration Service Command in Abia State, maintaining that a good number of these criminals are not Nigerians.
The release partly reads, “Governor Ikpeazu noted that the victims of the criminal activities of these people include students and lecturers.
“He assured that Government will continue to support the Nigeria Immigration Service in the state to continue to carry out its mandate.
“He congratulated Mrs Anthonia Opara, a former Comptroller of Immigrations in Abia State on her elevation to the position of Deputy Comptroller General of Immigrations and appreciated the Acting Comptroller General and the Minister of Interior for restoring the Abia Command of Immigration Service after the command was attacked and vandalized by some “Unknown Gun men”.
“Earlier in an address, the Deputy Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, in charge of Migration at the Headquarters of the Service, Mrs Anthonia Opara thanked the Governor for his immense support to the Abia Command of Immigration Service as demonstrated in the rehabilitation, by the State Government, of the State Command of the Service and reassured him of the continued partnership of the Nigeria Immigration Service with the State Government.
“She appealed to the Governor to assist them in providing operational vehicles to enable them carry out their operations effectively in the state.
“The State Comptroller of Immigration, Abia State Command, Mr Samuel Offiong was part of the delegation while the Secretary to Government, Barrister Chris Ezem, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Professor ACB Agbazuere were among other top government functionaries who were present during the visit.“
