Kwara State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service yesterday repatriated nine Nigeriens who were said to have entered the country without necessary documents.

The suspects, who were arrested at Tanke area of Ilorin, according to Immigration, gained entrance into the country through illegal routes.

Parading the suspects on Monday, the state comptroller of the service, Mr. Nwachukwu Chime, noted that the immigrants could pose security threats, as they do not have any travel document. He said: "We have made arrangements to repatriate them to their country. It may not be out of place that they could pose security challenge as they have no travel documents. They came into the country and Kwara State through illegal basis. Had it been they had normal travelling documents, we would have received them as ECOWAS citizens who have the right to free movement."

He said the service is mopping up Tanke area to nab more illegal immigrants, adding: "We are still trying to mop up more of such."

One of the suspects identified simply as Isiaka said they came to Nigeria to take up menial jobs like loading of cement and others.

He said they do not constitute security threat, adding that their travel documents had just expired.