2027 Polls: Mercenaries May Infiltrate Nigeria, NIS, DSS Warn

Security businesses have warned that legal networks and overseas components might exploit Nigeria’s borders to maneuver illicit arms, mercenaries and different threats able to undermining the 2027 normal elections.

The warning got here throughout a sensitisation workshop organised by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Officials referred to as for tighter border surveillance, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations earlier than, throughout and after the elections.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, in a keynote handle delivered on her behalf by the Deputy Comptroller-General, Franca Nwanneka, mentioned weaknesses on the nation’s borders might create safety dangers in the course of the electoral interval.

She mentioned the NIS should stay alert to irregular migration, human trafficking, migrant smuggling and different transnational crimes that might threaten nationwide safety and the electoral course of.

“No single agency can address the complex security challenges confronting our nation in isolation. Our collective strength lies in our ability to work together, share timely information, and respond decisively to emerging threats,” Nandap mentioned.

The workshop, themed, ‘The Strategic Role of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Election Monitoring and Management,’ introduced collectively representatives of safety businesses and different individuals to debate the position of immigration and border safety in defending the electoral course of.

Nandap additionally warned immigration personnel towards partisan actions, insisting that the Service should stay politically impartial all through the electoral cycle.

She mentioned official assets should not be used to advance partisan pursuits and directed officers to strengthen surveillance, intelligence gathering, personnel deployment and coordination with different safety businesses.

Also talking, the Deputy Director-General, Operations and Intelligence of the Department of State Services (DSS), Patrick Ikenweiwe, who represented the Director-General, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, warned that election durations might entice makes an attempt to use Nigeria’s borders.

“Electoral periods attract attempts to exploit the country’s borders for the movement of illicit arms, mercenaries and other elements seeking to undermine the democratic process,” he mentioned.

Ikenweiwe mentioned nearer intelligence sharing, joint risk assessments and coordinated operations, notably alongside land borders and at entry factors, could be vital because the elections approached.

“No single agency can secure the electoral space alone. Our strength lies in absolute synergy,” he mentioned, including that “the DSS remains committed to deepening collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service through timely intelligence sharing, joint threat assessment and coordinated operations, particularly along our land borders and at entry points.”

He additionally urged safety personnel to take care of neutrality and professionalism in the course of the electoral interval.

Similarly, the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, represented by Assistant Commandant-General David Idowu Ojelabi, mentioned early preparations and cooperation amongst safety businesses have been vital to guard the elections.

Audi mentioned the Immigration Service had a central position in securing Nigeria’s land, air and maritime entry factors and stopping threats, together with potential overseas interference.

He mentioned intelligence sharing might allow safety businesses to behave on threats recognized outdoors their fast areas of operation.

“No single agency sees the whole picture. The risk identified at one border post may be precisely the information another agency needs to prevent trouble in a different location,” he mentioned.

The workshop additionally featured technical periods on the position of the Immigration Service in election administration, developments inside the Service and the tasks of heads of formations underneath the Performance Evaluation and Results Management Information System (PERMIS).

The periods have been introduced by an Assistant Comptroller-General of Immigration, DCI Patrick Odeh, and CSI Yussuff Olawale.