SECURITY agencies have intensified operations along the Nigeria-Niger Republic borders, particularly in the Sokoto axis, following new reports of activities by a new terror group known as Lakurawa, this newspaper reports.
Officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), however, assured the public that there is no cause for alarm, stating that proactive measures have been implemented to prevent illegal migrants from infiltrating the country.
A senior NIS official told our correspondent that the agency, in collaboration with other security operatives, is maintaining strict surveillance to monitor and address any developments along the borders.
“Since the new alert on the presence of a new terror group within the Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states axis, we have stepped up our games.
“The NIS and other agencies are working in synergy to establish the veracity of some of the claims. We are closely monitoring the situation “, said the NIS officer.
Also at the headquarters of the NIS in Abuja, our Correspondent gathered that the deployment of recently commissioned President Bola Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex ( BATTIC) has provided an edge for the NIS to secure the country’s land borders.
The BATTIC is fitted with state of the art technology gadgets for surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of happenings at all borders and provide the NIS with adequate data for management of migration information.
During the commissioning of the complex, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nanna Nandap announced that the complex would among others “support real-time video surveillance to monitor unmanned border areas across the federation, ensuring a constant watch on border activities”.
“Integrated Communication Platform: BATTIC will facilitate seamless communication across all levels—from Border Patrol Units to Border Control Posts, State Commands, the Service Headquarters, and the Ministry of Interior.
“Cross-Referencing with National and International Watchlists: Data will be cross-checked against various national and global security databases, including INTERPOL, to ensure no security threats slip through the cracks”, Mrs Nandap said.
“In essence, BATTIC will serve as the central hub for our digital infrastructure, dramatically enhancing our surveillance capabilities, streamlining migration management, and strengthening our national security framework”, the CG added.
The NIS source in Abuja maintained that since the inauguration of the complex, a new phase has opened for the Service to deliver on its mandate in border management and security.
