We planned to sell voters cards, confess foreigners

Some Nigeriens who were among 82 illegal immigrants arrested in different parts of Lagos State for being in possession of voters cards, in a dramatic confession, said they wanted to make money with the cards.

The Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos State Command, Mrs. Justina Ahmadu, without mincing words, said that the foreigners would be repatriated immediately.

The arrest and recovery of the cards by immigration officers occurred as many Nigerians are insisting that they were yet to get their voters cards. According to the foreigners, they had succeeded in registering for voters’ cards, but were yet to get their Permanent Voters Cards before their arrest.

According to them, they pretended to be Nigerians from north to get the cards. Although their spoken English was halting, one of them, Mohammed, boldly expressed himself.

He said: “I’ve been in Lagos for close to four years. I came into the country in a truck conveying cows. My job in Nigeria is to supply water to residents who do not have access to boreholes. Many of us have temporary voters’ cards. We posed as Northerners because our names sound like theirs. Some of our friends said we should get the cards, that we could be given money during elections. We were unable to get our PVC because we were afraid to visit the designated points due to regular visits of Immigration officers there.”

They further confessed to live under bridges and shanties in different parts of Lagos.

Ahmadu warned all foreigners residing in Lagos to stay away from the country's election, stating that it was strictly for Nigerians.

She implored Nigerians to give information that would lead to the arrest of illegal immigrants, adding that security was the responsibility of all.

She further said: “I appeal to those employing them, to ensure they have their valid travel document the moment they employ them. They should make sure they procure their resident cards for them in order to qualify them to stay legally in the country. All foreigners residing in Lagos should also know that the forth coming election is Nigerians affair and as such, they should not meddle into it.”