Niger Coup:  Immigration, DSS, Soldiers On Red Alert  As Deadline For Restoration Of Democratic Rule In Niger Ends

Niger Coup:  Immigration, DSS, Soldiers On Red Alert  As Deadline For Restoration Of Democratic Rule In Niger Ends

As Hostilities Between Nigerien And Nigerian Soldiers Began In Malam Fatori Border In Borno

Economic Activities Gradually Collapsing

Muhammad Sabiu, Attahiru Ahmed, Olakunle Maruf,  Adamu Ahmadu, Atiku Galadima

The Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS), Director of Security Service (DSS), soldiers  have been put on the red alert  as deadline for the restoration of democratic rule in Niger Republic ends on Sunday.

To this end, findings by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the security on the Nigerian borders with  Niger Republic has been intensified .

Immigration officials, with the personnel of Directorate of State Security Service and Nigerian Customs service have been  mandated to stop  Nigerien citizens from crossing over to Nigeria through official or unofficial borders.

In the vein, Nigerians were also not allowed to cross over into Niger Republic through the Kamba border in Kebbi state, illela border in Sokoto,  Jibiya, Maradi , Zango, Mai’Adua as well as Kaita borders in Katsina state.Other borders  affected are the Gurbin Bore, in Zamfara, babura, maigari borders in Jigawa state among others.

 According to Mustapha Sani, the Immigration comptroller in charge of Special Border Command in an interview remarked that ”  Nigerians should stay at home and not attempt to go to the Niger Republic until the embargo is lifted, adding that, they’re determined to return any Nigerien citizens who is planning to come to Nigeria back to his country”

“We have already put our officers on alert and we have already deployed some to go and man the orthodox routes through which some of the foreigners use to enter into Nigeria and from what we have on the ground, we know it will be impossible for them to enter into Nigeria.

“We have already stationed our officers at strategic places for stop and search as usual,” he said.

The comptroller said since the special border command received a signal that all borders with the Niger Republic should remain closed, officers of the command have been active in enforcing the sanction.

In Zamfara,  tight security had been mounted in  Gurbin bore village in zurmi local government area of the state to check illegal immigrants from Niger Republic into the country.

In a chart with Nigerian tribune,an indigene of Gurbin bore town Mallam Abdullahi Mohammed, said few weeks after the coup in Niger republic normal business transaction has drop drastically in the area.

He disclosed that, though Gurbin bore is not closely to the niger border,but it’s few kilometers to jibiya in Katsina state that has borderland with Niger republic

and what ever affect jibiya has affected residents of Gurbin bore.

“We are not happy with the coup in Niger, things is drawing back due to the unstable situation in Niger republic.”

In an interview with the Zamfara state  controller of immigration Service  Ibrahim Dauda Sabimoro said it’s the primary responsibility of immigration to check the influx of migrants in the country.

According to him, security has been beefed up between the border to checkmate the illegal immigrants through the border of niger.

Also,in Sokoto,the  Illela, a border community in Sokoto State  residents are apprehensive over the ultimatum given by President Bola Tinubu’s led Ecowas .

Some of the residents of the community who spoke with our correspondent on telephone appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to rescind it’s decision of using military option in resolving the crisis.

Nuhu Ibrahim, a motorcyclist in Illela said any attack on Niger Republic will have negative effects on the people of Illela community which he said will definitely be a soft target for the people of Niger Republic.

“We are still appealing to the President, Bola Tinubu, to have a rethink over his plan to invade Niger Republic through Ecowas, our people will suffer for it if he ho ahead and do it”

Also speaking, Abubakar Bello, who sells foodstuffs in Illela said most of his colleagues could not open their shop today due to fear of being attack.

He said, ” even if Niger Republic army didn’t attack the community, some hoodlums may take the advantage of what is happening to attack us, so we are being careful” he said.

In Jigawa, fear is gripping the communities in the neighboring Nigerian/Niger boarder in Jigawa state as the the deadline given the by ECOWAS expires on Sunday.

Reports from the areas indicated that almost all business activities had been put on hold in fear of collateral damage in case of  military action.

Findings by Nigerian Tribune revealed that movement and activities at the Maigatari-Niger border of Jigawa state has been stopped.

 Nigerian Tribune findings by the Nigerian Tribune revealed   that the number of soldiers and other security personnel have been increased at Maigatari and Babura borders gates.

Speaking to Nigerian Tribune a resident of Babura town who gave his name as Malam Salisu Sani said “a strong security have been deployed at Babura and Babbanmutum boarder gate. As both gates have been totally locked.

Malam Salisu Sani maintained that “as I’m talking to you now there are dozens of vehicles at the two sides of the boarder who wanted to cross to Nigeria from Niger, and Niger to Nigeria but no way”.

Meanwhile, in the neighbouring towns of Malam Fatori bordering Marte LGA of Borno State, Nigeria and Bosso town in Niger Republic, which were once connected by a friendly daily interaction between Nigerian Army soldiers and Niger Republic soldiers that are restoring peace in the Lake Chad region as Multinational Joint Task Force in Bosso, are now experiencing hostility.

 Following the ECOWAS sanctions on Niger and the declaration of potential military action by ECOMOG, Nigerian soldiers have been denied access to Bosso town where they usually go to source items for their daily lives and basic provisions.

Commercial activities between the two countries have also been suspended, no body is allow to enter diffa or bosso from Nigeria, said Ali Liman a Nigerian who resides in Diffa.

“The price of commodities is also increasing because most of the goods that we are using here came from Nigerian”.

“One litre of fuel is more than one thousand naira, one Maggie cube is 30 naira, we are not supporting military operations in Niger” said Liman.

Muktar Alkali is a commercial driver in the bordering town of Marte Nigeria said “we are advocating for dialogue not military action”.

“Before now you will see Nigerian soldiers and Niger soldiers sitting together around the border but now look at the situation, Niger troops had completely withdrawn from Nigerian territory since last week Friday morning”.

“The border is totally closed no one is allow to enter Niger like Nigeria, even though we have our friends and relatives in both countries “ he added.

Musa Saminu okada rider in diffa bordering Borno State said “there is no light, no electricity because Nigeria cut off the power supply, no fuel and everything is very expensive including food items.