The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called for greater collaboration with Sahel and West African nations to improve border control through enhanced information and data sharing.

Tunji-Ojo made the call on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Summit on Border Security in London. He emphasized the importance of proactive measures in addressing international migration issues.

“There is a need for collaboration among countries in the Sahel and West African region for better international partnerships and information sharing,” Tunji-Ojo stated. “We need more data sharing and collaboration to not only solve problems but to prevent them from occurring.”

He highlighted the significance of the summit, which brought together over 30 global leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, to discuss critical issues related to border security and organized immigration crimes.

Tunji-Ojo stressed that the fight against irregular migration requires united efforts. “This summit is a great opportunity for ministers to ensure that we are all equipped to manage our borders and secure our countries,” he said.

51 Illegal Immigrants Arrested in Nasarawa

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the arrest of 51 illegal immigrants in the New Nyanya area of Karu Local Government, Nasarawa State. The arrested individuals, aged between 17 and 25, are all from Mali, with 11 females and 40 males.

A.S. Akinlabi, the NIS Public Relations Officer, confirmed that the migrants were detained following credible intelligence. Preliminary investigations suggest that the immigrants may have been victims of human trafficking and migrant smuggling. None of them had valid travel documents or residence permits.

The arrested individuals are currently in NIS custody, undergoing further profiling and investigation.