The Kwara State Government yesterday pledged its readiness to work hand-in-hand with the state Ministry of Security Committee set up by the Federal Government to flush out illegal immigrants and criminals from the country.

The state Deputy Governor, Elder Peter Kisira made the pledge during a courtesy call paid to his office by the members of the committee chaired by the state comptroller of immigration, Mr. James Esan. Kisira also pledged that government would provide the committee with two vehicles to facilitate their operation.

He therefore, advised the committee members which is made up of police, SSS, Civil Defence, Prison Officers and NDA to carry out their exercise in accordance with the laid down guiding principles of the committee.

According to him, "Nigeria and Kwara in particular are made up of people of diverse cultures and ethnicities and remember also to put into consideration the ECOWAS protocol so that people of member states will not be deprived of inter-country free movement."

Earlier in his address, the chairman of the committee, Mr. James Esan, who is also the state comptroller of immigration, said the idea of ministerial security committee was conceived "by the Federal ministry of interior as part of efforts to checkmate security challenges in the state."

Esan disclosed that the committees were inaugurated in Abuja on 6th of July, 2012, saying that the comptroller of immigration of each state was nude the chairman of their respective state while the comptroller-General was the overall chairman.

He explained that their visit to Government House was to intimate government of their activities, pointing out that their mandate was to checkmate infiltration of illegal immigrants and flush out those already in the country.

Esan added that their activities are limited and aimed at cleaning the country from various security challenges bedeviling the country.

Culled from The Herald Newspaper