By Evelyn Usman

In an apparent move to checkmate aliens from voting in the forthcoming general elections, the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, last weekend raided parts of Lagos, arresting 82 illegal immigrants.

Vanguard reliably gathered that majority of the arrested migrants were discovered to have temporary voter’s cards.

Briefing journalists shortly before the Nigeriens were repatriated, the Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos State Command, Mrs Justina Ahmadu, warned all foreigners residing in the state to stay away from the country’s elections.

She said the arrest of the illegal immigrants followed massive raids around Lagos metropolis, stating that the command would continue with the raid until every illegal immigrant was flushed out of the state.

Ahmedu advised those who employ the services of aliens to ensure they procured the necessary documents that would guarantee their legal stay in the country.

She said: “All foreigners residing in Lagos should know that the forthcoming elections are for Nigerians. As such, they should not meddle in it.”

In an interaction with some of the aliens, it was discovered that they had succeeded in registering for voter’s cards.

They told Vanguard that they were yet to get their Permanent Voter’s Cards before their arrest.

One of them, who simply identified himself as Mohammed, said: “I have been in Lagos for close to four years. I came into the country in a truck conveying cows.

“We posed as Northerners because our names sound like theirs. Some of our friends told us we should get the cards, that we would be given money during elections.

“Unfortunately, we were unable to get our Permanent Voter’s Cards because we were afraid to visit the designated points, owing to the regular visits of immigration officers.”

Others, who gave their names as Idris, Kanaide, Mohammed, Musa and Shuaibu, corroborated Mohammed’s claim, revealing that they had been living under the bridges and shanties in different parts of the state before their arrest.