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The Sokoto State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has said it seized 452 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), national identity cards and birth certificates from some nationals of Niger Republic in the last one year.

State NIS Controller Yunusa Aliyu addressed reporters yesterday in Sokoto on the activities of the service.

Aliyu explained that the 66 were PVCs, 33 temporary voter cards, and 271 and 69 old and new national identification cards.

The rest of the seized documents included a local government identification card and 12 birth certificates.

The NIS chief said all the documents were seized by the officers attached to the Tureta checkpoint on the Sokoto-Gusau Road.

He said the national documents, which were supposed to be issued to bona fide Nigerians, were issued in other southern states.

Aliyu said: “This is because it is extremely difficult there to differentiate between the Hausa from northern Nigeria and those from the neighbouring Niger Republic.”

The NIS chief also said some officers attached to the border guards units under the command intercepted a stolen vehicle on the Tangaza-Balle Road in the state.

He said: “The suspected car snatchers were stopped for a routine search by the officers but they refused to stop. They fled.

“The officers pursued them and the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled, although no suspect was arrested.”

Aliyu said the vehicle had been handed over to the state police command.

He added: “The owner was in our command to claim the recovered vehicle, but he was referred to the police command for proper identification and claim.”

•Adapted from a Nation report.

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