News Investigators/ The new Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Oyo State Command, Usman Babangida says the command will arrest and prosecute violators of the ban on land borders.
Mr. Babangida stated this on Friday during a send-off party organised for the outgoing Comptroller, Saley Abdullahi, who was promoted to Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) in charge of procurement at the service Headquarters, Abuja.
The new comptroller said that President Muhammadu Buhari through the NIS Comptroller-General, Muhammed Babandede had announced closure of land borders due to outbreak of the COVID-19.
‘If by any way we intercept people coming into Nigeria or going out, we will arrest and prosecute them.
‘We have cases where people were intercepted and arrested along Akwa Ibom and were taken to court.
‘My message for those that may be planning to sneak into Oyo State through the land border during this pandemic is that, it is not yet time and there is time for everything.’’
He said that the opening of the land borders would be announced in due time and urged people who plan to enter or go out of the country to stay put until the borders were certified safe to be opened.
Babangida described the outgoing comptroller as hardworking and dedicated thanking him for the precedent he had set in the command which he promised to build on.
Earlier, the outgoing comptroller appreciated Gov. Seyi Makinde and his management team as well as other heads of security agencies in the state for the support and synergy received during his service in the state.
“I remembered when we launched our migrant re-registration, the whole Executive of Oyo State were here, led by the governor, deputy governor, SSG, Head of Service and Speaker.
“My sincere appreciation goes to him and his management team.
“My colleagues in the security architecture of the state, I thank you for your cooperation and synergy and I also solicit that the same support be extended to my successor.
“During my tenure here all the security agencies in the state worked as a family and I am appealing to you to give the same cooperation to my successor.’’
He also appreciated the management team of the command as well as the officers and men of the command for their maximum support saying without them he would not have been able to run the affairs of the command successfully.
Speaking on behalf of other security agencies in the state, ACG, Tosin Akinrojomu in- charge of Nigeria Correctional Service, Oyo State Command, said Abdullahi had contributed immensely to the security of the state.
“He is an asset to the Nigeria Immigration and I believe his stay in Oyo State command must have influenced a lot of officers to be conscious on the way they carry out their duty.
“Our prayer is that God almighty will continue to be with him and protect his family.’’
