Residents of Oyo State have been warned to do away with harbouring illegal immigrants, who found their ways to the country by unlawful means.
The Comptroller in Oyo, Muhammed Umar, who gave the warning while speaking with journalists yesterday in Ibadan, maintained that it is an offence for anyone in the state and Nigeria to harbour illegal migrants, adding that anyone found guilty would be prosecuted.
The comptroller said that harbouring illegal migrants could infringe on the country’s security, a development that the service would not condone.
“We encourage people to help us and let us know when they see anyone harbouring illegal migrants.
“It infringes on our national security when you harbour somebody that is not a Nigerian and most likely does not engage in legitimate business.
“Every non-Nigerian that is here and doing a legitimate business should have been registered with the service, which is an indication that such a person is legally here,” Umar said.
He, therefore, urged passport applicants to avoid patronising touts to get their international passports but to follow the procedure by registering online.
He said a new passport office would soon be inaugurated in Oyo town to reduce the pressure on the Ibadan centre.
Meanwhile, the Comptroller has added that the service would continue to carry out sensitisation along the border areas.