Immigration, Police Expel 23 Suspected Herdsmen, Illegal Immigrants From Obudu

CrossRiverWatch has reliably gathered that 23 suspected herdsmen and illegal immigrants from neighboring Niger Republic have were yesterday expelled from Obudu by a joint team of the Nigeria Immigration and Nigeria Police force.

The eviction which was coordinated in conjunction with the office of the Security Adviser in the local government and the Community Relations Officer saw armed personnel escorting the suspected immigrants to the Obudu boundary with Obanlikwu LGA from where they continued their journey, yet into other parts of Cross River State.

A security source in Obudu told CrossRiverWatch that, the suspects from Niger Republic “came into Obudu a few months ago and have been selling traditional medicines to people and penetrating the villages. But our people have noticed them and there is outcry to get them out because of the prevailing security situation involving Fulani herdsmen in nearby Benue state and across the country. Our people have expressed serious fears about their presence.

“The Immigration invited them and we found out that some of them had expired ECOWAS passports while others did not have any papers at all. So we decided to get them out of Obudu yesterday and escorted them to the boundary with Obanlikwu then called the DPO there to monitor them and see how they proceed to the boundary.”

Our source who pleaded not to be named said the operation was meant to be covet and kept away from the Press. Heads of the security agencies in the LGA who participated in the operation also refused to comment on the issue.

It is however unclear how, the eviction of the suspects from Obudu to other parts of Cross River State will avert danger, if there is any.