Protest: FG Identifies Diaspora Sponsors, Freezes Their Accounts

The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, has disclosed that the service has identified some sponsors of the ongoing nationwide hunger protests.

The NIS boss who said the sponsors were based in the diaspora, noted that they have been put on a watch list, adding that they will be arrested when entering the country.

Nandap made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during a combined news conference by the heads of security agencies and Service Chiefs convened by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, at the Defence Headquarters.

According to her, “We have identified some diaspora sponsors; they are on our watch list. “We will be notified of any attempt they make to enter the country, and they will be picked up and handed to the appropriate authority.”

The immigration boss said the service had, in response to the protest, deployed more officers to borders, both land and airports, to ensure effective manning of those entry ports.

She said that NIS had also stepped up surveillance to prevent foreign intervention in the country.

Similarly, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, said the police had uncovered some sponsors but declined to give further information.

Egbetokun said that some accounts of such individuals had been blocked, adding that “many of them reside abroad”.

Also, the Director General of the Department of State Services, Mr Yusuf Bichi, represented by the service’s spokesman, Mr Peter Afunanya, said the service was monitoring those concerned.

He added that the service also worked with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit to identify more people behind the protest’s funding.

NAN