The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has warned Nigerians against travelling to the Niger Republic due to the political crisis over the coup d’etat in the country.
The NIS Comptroller in charge of the Jibia Special Border Command, Katsina State, Mustapha Sani, issued the warning on Thursday.
Sani speaking in a joint celebration with the Katsina State Command of the NIS to commemorate the service at 60 said Nigerians should stay at home and not attempt to go to the Niger Republic until the embargo is lifted.
He also said that the NIS is determined to return any Nigerien its officers catch while planning to come to Nigeria.
According to him, the Service is deploying men to man the Katsina border in its bid to help curtail illegal movement from the Niger Republic.
“Despite the fact that we are divided by colonial masters, we share certain things in common like religion and culture, and that doesn’t guarantee them to enter Nigeria without valid documents,” Sani added.
“We have already put our officers on alert and we have already deployed some to go and man the orthodox routes through which some of the foreigners use to enter into Nigeria.
“And from what we have on the ground, we know it will be impossible for them to enter into Nigeria because we have already stationed our officers at strategic places for stop and search as usual.”
Meanwhile, Niger Republic’s junta has cut off ties with Nigeria, its former colonial ruler France, Togo, and the United States.
Spokesperson for Niger’s coup leader Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane said this in a national broadcast on Thursday, according to Radio France International.
Nigeria’s president Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Chairman of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) on Thursday sent a delegation led by former military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar to Niger Republic.
ECOWAS had issued a seven-day ultimatum for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum to avoid a possible clash with the junta.
