Five foreign female illegal immigrants arrested in Lokoja by JBPT

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

The Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT), Sector 3, Ilorin, Kwara state, formerly known as Joint Border Operations Drill, has arrested five illegal immigrants, all females, in Lokoja, Kogi state. .

The suspects are Fatima Mohammadu (38) from Niger Republic, Judith Kofi (29) from Ghana, Fanta Camara (30) from Mali, Fadima Taore ((37) from Chad and Fatimata Camara (39) from Benin Republic.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Ilorin, the state capital, the Coordinator, JBPT, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, said: “They were found to be illegal immigrants without any means of identification. Investigation further revealed that they operate as a syndicate comprising two groups, they specialise in duping and stealing women wrappers, and most times they use charm to perpetrate their crimes.

“One group operates in Kaduna and the other in Kano axis, prominently on big shops selling women wrapper as their targets. The two groups came into the country through Katsina and Seme illegal routes.

“The driver of their Mazda 626 is Mufutau Woye (34), a Nigerian from Kwara State but resides in Kubwa FCT Abuja as a commercial driver. He was only hired to transport them to and from Kogi State.

“Fatimata Camara, Fatima Mohammadu and Fanta Camara confessed to stealing 15 bundles of the wrappers worth Two Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand Naira N255, 000 in Kogi State.

“The suspects will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.”

On their anti smuggling activities, the Coordinator disclosed that the Sector recorded 128 seizures, including
1,584 Foreign Par boiled Rice,
48 Units of used vehicles, seven Motor Cycles, 1,864 Jerri Cans of 25 liters PMS and 18 Jerri Cans of 25 liters AGO.

Others were 21 Bales of secondhand clothing, 86 and 20 pairs of Men and Women used Cloths respectively, 21 Bags of 50kg Foreign Sugar, five Locally made Dane Gun, Jack Knife, Axe and Cutlass, and seven Drums of PMS, adding that three Sets of Human traffickers making the total number of 80 (Specifically Children), who have been handed over to Immigration and National Agency for Prohibition of trafficking in persons (NAPTIP).

Besides, he said the seizures and arrest include six Illegal immigrants,
60,000 Currency in CFA, 948 Cartons of foreign tomato paste

He said: “There are however more seizures domiciled at various locations within the Sector that could not be transferred to Sector 3 Headquarters due to distance and logistics problem. We have 311 Bags of Rice and seven Vehicles in Okuta, 850 Cartons of Tomatoes Paste in Ogaja-Adikpo Benue State,162 Bags of Rice and four used Vehicles in Bokuro, 95 Cartons of Tomatos, seven drums of PMS and two Used Vehicles in Babanna, with the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N75, 851, 300.”

Comptroller Olugboyega said that under his leadership and due to their steadfastness, they were able to record 242 seizures with total Duty Paid Value of N259, 260, 443.

He cautioned the youth to reject being used by economic saboteurs to confront operatives of the Sector carrying out their lawful duties and those people with criminal intentions, saying they would continue to partner with other Security Agencies/Stakeholders to make the Sector and indeed the country at large a safe place to dwell in.


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