FG identifies 1,497 illegal border entries •Deports 16,000 foreigners

Efforts by the Federal Government to stem the tide of the activities of terror groups in the country have yielded desired results as it has discovered about 1,497 illegal border points.
Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Friday, added that a total of 16, 000 aliens have so far been repatriated in the wake of the exercise.
Moro, who regretted that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol that allows free movement of citizens within the ECOWAS sub region has been abused, said the Nigeria government was forced to take the decision when it became obvious that foreign mercenaries were aiding insurgency in the country.
 “Our major challenge, like I said, is the presence of aliens in this country. As friendly as we are, and as sticklers to agreement, particularly the ECOWAS protocol that allows free movement of citizens in ECOWAS countries, the suicide bombings, bombers and attacks on our institutions make it imperative that certain measures would be taken to be proactive enough to forestall the continued occurrence of these activities.
“So, in the process, the Nigerian Immigration Service that is charged with the responsibility of controlling our borders rose up to the occasion by setting up the necessary machinery to identify, screen and profile aliens that are in the country with a view to identifying those that are criminally minded and whose activities are inimical to the stability of this country. In the process, over 16, 000 such aliens have been repatriated,” he said.
According to the minister, efforts were also put in place to ensure a proper control of Nigeria’s borders, especially with the identification of over 84 regular routes and 1, 497 irregular routes.
He explained that this was the reason why his ministry had to contact the relevant government agencies to grant approval to the immigration service to engage more hands and to be able to control the nation’s borders.
Besides, Moro said the Nigerian Immigration Service in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior made spirited efforts to procure appropriate technology that will enable the immigration service to monitor the borders that have been porous.
He stressed that the fact that the activities of these terrorists persisted in spite of concerted efforts of the security agencies to stem the tide meant that “there is still more work to do.”
He, however, said that“with the determination of government as promised by Mr. President himself that 2013 is going to be a better year for Nigeria, it is my hope that our efforts will pay off and conflicts and sectarian insurgency in Nigeria will soon become a thing of the past.”