The Immigration Service in Jigawa on Monday said it had so far arrested 244 illegal immigrants in the state.
The controller of the service in the state, Mr Abubakar Bamalli, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Dutse that the arrest was made in Dutse city and Birnin Kudu Local Government Area.
Bamalli said Jigawa was one of the states that shared border with the Niger Republic.
He said the arrest was as a result of a cleansing operation meant to flush out foreigners without valid documents.
He said the operation was a continuous one and that the command had targeted 13 local government areas of the state that would be combed within one week.
“Today is day one of the operation, and we shall continue with the exercise until the commencement of Ramadan fast,” he said.
The controller said the people that were arrested were going through different stages of screening, and that those with valid documents would be freed.
According to him, the treaties among ECOWAS countries include full travel documents of all citizens of the countries involved.
He noted that though Nigeria had porous borders, the service would no longer tolerate illegal immigrants into the country.
Bamali said the security of the country was a major challenge to all, and not just security operatives alone.
