President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the immediate stoppage of deportation and registration of Nigerians within the 36 states of the federation. Towards this end, he called for a meeting the National Council of State next week to discuss the seriousness and the implication of registration and deportation of Nigerians from one state to the other.
While noting that the action was “more potent than Boko Haram,” to disintegrate Nigeria, the President warned that any security operatives caught assisting in deportation and registration of Nigerians would be heavily sanctioned. He also warned youth groups who are as a result of this act planning in some states to ferment trouble to desist or face severe sanctions.
The decision was taken at yesterday at the National Security Council meeting, presided over by Jonathan which had in attendance all the service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Director General, State Security Service (SSS), DG, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), ministers of Interior, Foreign Affairs and Police Affairs. Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the IGP, Muhammed Abubakar and the DG SSS, Ita Ekpeyong, said the meeting considered the deportation of Nigerians from any part of the country as a dangerous trend that must be stopped forthwith.
Abubakar said, “primarily, the council discussed very important issues – Boko Haram, that is to say the issue of terrorism in Nigeria, second most important issue the Chibok girls and lastly the issue of Nigerians being discriminated against in some parts of the country.” Ekpeyong, said Council regarded the issue of deportation, registration of Nigerians in states of the federation as even more potent than Boko Haram: “Council discussed in detail the issue of registration of Nigerians in any part of the country, being subjected to registration, being subjected to deportation, being taken away from one part of the country to the other.
Council discussed the reaction by some groups in Kano State and other parts of the country. “Council observed that this threat was more potent than Boko Haram and could disintegrate the country. And we take this very seriously, for people to deport people, for people to take people from one place to the other, for registration of indigenes no matter where they are. No matter where they are they are free to settle anywhere they like. “Council resolved that the issue of registration of Nigerians anywhere in the country and deportation should stop forthwith. To re-emphasis the importance, the President attached to this, he asked the IG and I to address the press, this must stop forthwith.
“Security operatives should not be involved in anybody trying to register people and anybody trying to deport people, security operatives must henceforth not be involved. If Police, SSS are found to be involved
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