Operatives of the Nigerian Navy have arrested eight illegal immigrants, who are part of a 26-man gang that has been terrorising residents of Rivers State.
Commodore Sanusi Ibrahim, the commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, who announced the arrest to newsmen in Port Harcourt, said the arrested illegal immigrants are from the Republic of Niger, while others claim to be Nigerians.
Ibrahim, who was represented by the NNS Pathfinder’s Base Operations Officer, Commander Chidi Ejiofor, stated that members of the gang were arrested during a raid of criminal hideouts in the state capital, adding that the arrest followed an intelligence report of incessant terror campaigns by the group.
He said, “Troops of NNS Pathfinder raided a Mammy Market around Borokiri area of Port Harcourt following intelligence report of criminal activities and presence of illegal migrants in the area.
“Following the raid, eight illegal migrants from Niger Republic were arrested over their involvement in drug peddling, robbery and harassment of innocent citizens in the area. Also arrested during the raid were 18 others, who claimed to be Nigerians.”
The naval chief stated that the raid was made in view of the present security challenges in the North East and other parts of the country.
He said that the suspects had been handed over to operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for investigation and deportation of the aliens.
Receiving the 26 suspects from the Nigerian Navy, the assistant controller of NIS, Port Harcourt, Mr. Ahmed Isiaku, called for intelligence sharing between security services in the state.
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