The Nigerian Immigration Service Has Distanced Itself From Speculations on Witchhunting Endsars Frontliners

CGI Muhammed Babandede MFR

The Nigerian immigration service (NIS) has distanced itself from the news making rounds on social media that the NIS witchhunting people who participated in the Endsars protests and are not allowing them to travel. 

Sunday, 1st November news broke out on twitter that Ms Modupe "Moe" Odele, one of the frontliners who helped coordinate and provide legal aids for the EndSARS protest was prevented from leaving the country and had her Nigerian travel passport seized at the airport by Immigration officers. 

Sharing her ticket on twitter, Ms Odele narrated how she was stopped from leaving the country. 

As the news of her airport ordeal with the NIS went viral, many interpreted it as a witchhunting attempt by the government to clampdown on Endsars frontliners. With ongoing speculations, Ms. Odele insist that days after her passport was seized she was yet to be informed about the reason for the seizure.

On inquiry, the PRO of immigration, Mr. James Sunday confirmed to pedestriannews that Ms. Odele was indeed prevented from travelling and her passport is being withheld by the NIS. 

He further explained that the action by the immigration was based on directives from border management while retereiting the fact that it has nothing to do with the Endsars protest but strictly based on issues flagged by the boarder monitoring unit.

While Ms Odele deserves answers as to why her passport was seized and her movement is being restricted, it is important to note that the NIS reserves the right to withdraw or withhold travel passport of a Nigerian citizen if there is travel restrictions placed on such individual by agencies such as the boarder monitoring unit. 

We are told that investigations into the matter are on course and directives/passport would be released as soon as it is resolved.