No fewer than 22,000 illegal immigrants have been deported by the Federal Government in the war against the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, Interior Minister Abba Moro announced yesterday.
The Minister accused “criminals among these illegal aliens” of abetting Islamic extremists who want to overturn democracy.
He told reporters in Abuja that all the 22,000 were sent to neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
He said security and immigration officials have identified 84 illegal border crossings where they intend to back up patrols with electronic surveillance.
The deportations were effected in the aftermath of the declaration of a state of emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in May.