CONTECH Donates N4 Million To Families Of Slain, Injured Immigration Officers In Jigawa

By Mohammed Abubakar, Dutse

CONTECH Nigeria Limited, the Company managing the Resident Permit Section of the Nigerian Immigration Service, (NIS) has made a donation of N4 million to the families of the immigration officers, who came under bandit attacks in Jigawa state recently.

The mid-night attack by suspected bandits on a patrol base in Galadi-Birniwa, on the border with the Niger Republic in Jigawa state on August 9 led to the death of Abdullahi Muhamnad, an Assistant Inspector of Immigration, (AII) and serious injury of two other officers.

The Comptroller General of the NIS, Idris Jere Isa, spoke while confirming the gesture by CONTECH, when he paid condolence visit to the family of the fallen officer and sympathy visit to the injured officers in Dutse on Saturday
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The CG disclosed that the Service, through it’s welfare department has reached out to the immediate family of Abdullahi with some financial assistance.

But he declined to give the figure of how much was given to the family of the deceased. He however, described the three officers as the heroes of the Service, who must be emulated for their sense of courage and patriotism.

The CG boss also took time off to visit the two injured officers: Abba Musa Kiyawa, (DSI) and Zubairu Garba (AII) who are recuperating in a private hospital in the state capital and described their recovery as very encouraging, assuring that despite the setback, the Service would continue to place emphasis on the security and welfare of its men.

He said his visit to the family of the dead officer and visit to the injured officers should serve as a morale boosters to others that his administration places a lot of emphasis on their welfare and that their efforts at securing the nation’s borders are always appreciated.

He said, it was the duty of Immigration Service to defend the territorial border of the country and ensure that no miscreants criminals or unlawful items are allowed into the country, so, who ever died or injured in the course of such duty would not die in vain.

He, however revealed that, to ensure maximum security of the Nigerian boarder the Immigration Service will soon commence e-border patrol across the nation over 5000 kilometre borderlines

The CG added that, the federal government has approved for the redeployment of CCTV Camera, Drones and other electoral gadgets for the surveillance of the country boarders.

Jere noted that, the operation of e-border patrol is money demanding he than called on federal government to increase their annual budgetary allocation to enable them discharged their duty effectively.

The NIS boss described Nigeria’s border as “porous and open”, noting that, “Nigeria has a very large borderline, which requires proper policing. Jigawa, for instance is bordering Niger Republic directly. The length of this border is 1,680 kilometers and this is huge.

“It is not easy bearing arms across the borders, so, I believe that technology is the answer.”

He admitted however, that the government was doing its best in the face of the economic reality, but stressed the need for the federal and state governments to commit more resources in the security sector so that Nigeria and Nigerians could be effectively secured the nation’s borders effectively.

Jere appreciated the concern of the present administration in the protection of lives and property. He noted that though the federal government had embargo on on employment, the president had given green light for the recruitment of about 5000 additional in personnel to man the border.

He described security as a collective business of all Nigerians and appealed to all, most especially state governments to complement the effort of federal government in the provision of patrol vehicles and other logistic support to them described the security as a collective responsibility upon all three tears of government and general public.