Fake Bakassi certificates of origin are circulating in Cross River region – Council chairman

Iyadim Amboni Iyadim, Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area in Cross River State, has warned the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) that fake certificates of origin for the local government are circulating.

When he paid a visit to Chris Baikie, the Comptroller of Immigration Service in Calabar, the state capital, today, Iyadim urged NIS passport officials to work with his council to avoid applicants presenting fake certificates of origin.

He explained that during the EndSARS protest in October 2020, hoodlums hijacked the certificates and vandalized the council secretariat, stealing many of the originals.

He stated that the Nigerian Army has heeded their request before processing recruit documentation.

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He narrated how he introduced what he called Manifest in the council to help checkmate movements of migrants in the environs.

Iyadim said his council is ready to collaborate and extend available support to Immigration to consolidate their good relationship.

“We are ready to work with and encourage the Divisional Immigration Officer in Bakassi for greater success and peaceful working atmosphere”, he assured.

Welcoming Iyadim and his entourage, CIS Baikie said he had plans to visit Bakassi soon.

He commended Baikie for his proactive posture and support which will help to serve the country better.

“While we heartily commend the Bakassi leadership for a good relationship and support, we remind the state government of its promise to assist his command with a gunboat to patrol the maritime boundaries of the state.

“Without security, a business will not grow; peace will be elusive,” he said.

“We solicit help to enable us to fish out and register all ‘migrants’ will him the local government and the state at large.”

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He stressed that intelligence reports from patriotic citizens will safeguard Nigeria’s national security.

He disclosed that his command was beefing up its database on all migrants and checkmating the possibility of any migrants that surreptitiously claimed citizenship and warming their way into political and other sensitive offices in the country.