The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammed Babandede, on Monday, September 28, revealed that the service’s readiness to join the fight against banditry and insurgency via the deployment of 2,000 Special Force in the North West to restore peace and security in the region.
Babandede made this disclosure during the passing out parade of 320 First Batch of pioneer Special Force of the Service held at the NIS Training School in Kano.
The Immigration boss said the deployment was aimed at addressing security challenges in the region.
According to him, the special operation in the North West was a definitive military initiative aimed at responding to arson, kidnapping, armed banditry, cattle rustling, and other criminal activities that are prevalent in the area.
He said: “The level of insecurity in the North West zone had constituted a threat to national security.
“This training is to prepare our men on how to respond to security challenges in the North West, hence, we have trained, professionally equipped gallant and fit officers and men to secure and restore peace in the area.
“The Special Force which consists of 70 officers and 250 other ranks is going there as a component of the Joint Task Force (JTF).
“Our target is to deploy 2,000 personnel and this is the First Batch of 320 Special Force that will patrol 700 kilometres stretching from Maigatari in Jigawa to Ilela in Sokoto State.”
Babandede added that the Immigration Service had trained over 2,400 officers and men on various courses from January to date, and tasked the personal to be discipline and show respect for human rights in the discharge of their duties.
Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on leaders of destination countries to assist with the repatriation of Nigeria’s wealth illegally siphoned out of the country.
Laolu Akande, spokesman to the Vice President disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
He said Osinbajo made the call at the virtual inauguration of a publication by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on the impact of illicit financial flows (IFFs) on African Development.
Equally important, Osinbajo called for an overhaul of the international tax system in order to tackle the scourge.
“The enormity of efforts required to tackle illicit financial flows is evident in the many dimensions the scourge presents itself. It manifests through harmful tax policies and practices, abusive transfer pricing; trade mis-pricing and mis-invoicing illegal exploitation of natural resources as well as official corruption, and organized crimes.”
