The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Oyo State Command has arrested and repatriated 18 foreigners for allegedly possessing voters’ cards.
The NIS Comptroller in the state, Isah Dansuleiman, made this known on Wednesday during a sensitisation programme on the 2023 general elections for stakeholders in Ibadan.
According to reports, the theme of the sensitisation programme is “Credible Elections in Nigeria: What is expected of migrants before, during and after the Election”.
Dansuleiman said that the migrants were arrested during a raid conducted in October by the command across the length and breadth of the state.
The Comptroller said that the foreigners violated the law of the land and were instantly repatriated to their various countries of origin.
He reiterated that, “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, therefore, re-warned migrants residing in Oyo State not to involve themselves in the 2023 general elections, saying they are allowed to stay in Nigeria to carry out their legal activities provided they have the required documents.
Dansuleiman called on Nigerians to report any migrant trying to participate in the general elections.
He reassured Nigerians that the command would not waver in its efforts to ensure that the general elections in 2023 are free, fair, and credible.
In the meantime, Dansuleiman further urged migrants who are yet to complete their migrants re-registration to do so, because the command will soon begin to smoke them out.