TheCable

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says 513 national identity cards and permanent voter cards (PVCs) have been retrieved from foreigners in Katsina.

According to NAN, Kelechi Ekeoba-Jones, NIS controller in the state, said this on Monday during a media briefing at the newly established Jibia border command.

He said the special border command in Jibia recovered 202 PVCs and 311 national identity cards from non-Nigerians in the state.

“Some foreign nationals were found in possession of the Federal Republic of Nigeria voter cards and national identity cards issued to them in various states of the country,” he said.

“A total of 513 voter and national identity cards were retrieved from them in various formations of the command.

“Therefore, we are soliciting the support of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to engage us whenever a voter registration exercise is going to be conducted again.

“Only the immigration officials can identify foreigners through our techniques whenever they come to register at any registration centre across the country.

“We are calling on INEC, at any point of registration, they should solicit the help of our people to avoid registering foreigners.

“So also, the body responsible for the national identity card registration, it should engage more of our officers whenever the exercise will commence because it’s very important.”