Nigerians stranded In Benin Republic As Seme Border Is Shut
Nigerians, as well as foreigners, were deprived entry into the country through the Seme border, Lagos, for the better part of Wednesday, following information that the border had been shut.
Most of the returning Nigerians who had gone for an international workshop at the Institute of Mathematical Science and Physics, Dangbon, Port Novo, in Benin Republic, were forced to return to the host country when all entireties on security agents at the border failed.
However, the Nigeria Customs Service said that the border was not shut.
Rather, it explained that movement of illegal migrants in and out of the country was only restricted.
The checks according to the Customs, was being carried out by operatives of the newly launched joint border security exercise code-named EX-SWIFT RESPONSE, as part of measures to secure the nation’s land and maritime borders, against influx of illegal migrants and other acts of criminalities.
The joint exercise, involves the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS and the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria as well as the Nigeria Police Force and other security and intelligence agencies.
The exercise which began on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, is expected to end by September 15, 2019.
The Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attach, who disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos, informed that the joint exercise was being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, adding that it would take place in four geopolitical zones: South-South, South-West, North-Central and North-West.
He explained that the exercise among other aims was expected to promote “interagency cooperation and increase preparedness to address trans-border security challenges such as terrorism, armed banditry, smuggling, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, among others.
“The exercise will also involve the movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment within the affected parts of the country. Therefore, we call on members of the public not to panic and should continue to engage in their normal duties. The overall objective is to ensure a peaceful and secured country in the interest of our National Security.
