70 Nigerian migrants who entered Ghana through unapproved routes have been intercepted by the country’s immigration service.
The Immigration Service disclosed that fifty-one migrants were intercepted at the Asikuma border post on February 3, while the other 19 were nabbed at the Ho Main Lorry Station on February 9 as they were preparing to travel into the capital, Accra.
Speaking at a press conference, the Regional Commander, Peter Clava Nantuo revealed that transport syndicates were responsible for carrying Nigerians across the Benin and Togo borders to dump them at the Ghana-Togo border.
“What is happening is that our brothers, especially from Nigeria, use transport syndicates. They will carry Nigerians across Benin, Togo and dump them at the Ghana-Togo border and ask them to find their ways and means to enter Ghana,” he stated.
“Be that as it may, that is how the okada (motorcycle) boys find business. They are transported through these unapproved routes into Ghana.”
According to Nantuo, the illegal immigrants hire a large bus that transports them at dawn to bring them into the capital. However, he assured the general public that the Regional Command were on high alert and would ensure that all illegal immigrants are intercepted.
Nantuo believes that this is because “they are beginning to see Ghana as a fertile ground for cyber fraud” and vowed that the government will not tolerate them.
“The question is why the influx of late? It is because they are begginning to see Ghana as a fertile ground for cyber fraud. We will not tolerate that. We will send them back to Aflao for them to be quarantined for the 14 days. Within that time, investigations would have been done as to whether they would be deported or prosecuted.”he said.