The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Oyo State Command, says that 18 foreigners were detained and deported because they were allegedly in possession of Nigerian voter cards.
Isah Dansuleiman, the state’s NIS Comptroller, announced this on Wednesday in Ibadan at a stakeholder awareness event about the general elections of 2023.
“Credible Elections in Nigeria: What is Expected of Migrants Before, During, and After the Election” is the focus of the sensitisation session.
Dansuleiman said that the migrants were caught during an operation that the command did across the whole state in October.
The Comptroller said that the foreigners broke the law, so they were sent back to where they came from right away.
“No migrant regardless of their status should participate in the 2023 general elections and any migrant caught in possession of a voter’s card will face the full wrath of the law.
“Those using them know their status but use them for their selfish reasons to procure voters cards,” he said.
The Comptroller stated that migrants living in Oyo State are permitted to stay in Nigeria to engage in their legal activities so long as they have the necessary documentation. However, he cautioned them against participating in the general elections in 2023.
Dansuleiman urged Nigerians to inform authorities of any immigrant who was attempting to vote in the general election.
He gave Nigerians the reassurance that the command would not waver in its efforts to ensure that the general elections in 2023 are free, fair, and credible.
In addition, Dansuleiman urged migrants who have not yet completed the migrants’ re-registration to do so because the command will soon begin to smoke them out.
