Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Immigration Service in Abia State has formally requested enhanced operational cooperation with the Abia State Police Command to combat human trafficking and strictly regulate the residency status of expatriates operating within the state. The call for a strategic partnership was made on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, when the Controller of Immigration, Abia State Command, Mrs Justina Nkechi Owa, received the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, CP Wilfred Afolabi, at the Immigration Command office in Umuahia.
Mrs Owa emphasised the critical need for proper documentation of all foreign nationals, highlighting the mandatory use of the Brown Card, the official residence permit required for expatriates living and working in Nigeria. She argued that without robust police backing, the NIS struggles to thoroughly verify the activities of foreigners dispersed across Abia State. "The need for proper documentation, including the use of residence permits (Brown Cards), to verify and regulate the activities of foreigners within Abia State," she stated. The Controller further stressed that strict enforcement of the residence permit is a primary defense against the establishment of illicit trafficking networks.
The core objective of the renewed partnership focuses on dismantling human trafficking syndicates that exploit porous documentation processes. By combining the NIS's statutory authority over borders with the domestic enforcement capabilities of the police, authorities aim to disrupt the logistical chains used by traffickers. The joint task force approach is expected to yield increased spot checks on commercial enterprises and residential compounds known to harbor undocumented workers across Umuahia and Aba.
The Controller identified human trafficking as one of the areas requiring closer cooperation between both agencies, while stressing the importance of proper documentation of foreigners residing and operating in Abia. She reaffirmed the Service's commitment to working closely with the Police Command to enhance security in Abia State and promised that her command would provide officers to participate in the forthcoming capacity-building training programme being organised by the Abia State Police Command.
Commissioner of Police Wilfred Afolabi welcomed the overture, stressing that modern security challenges cannot be tackled by isolated agencies. He noted that effective territorial control requires seamless intelligence sharing and coordinated field operations between the police and immigration units. The Commissioner, who stressed that no agency could thrive in isolation, said effective security was achieved through coordination among security agencies. He extended an official invitation for immigration officers to integrate into the police forces upcoming operational programs, including a comprehensive capacity-building training program.
The collaboration marks a significant step in tightening internal security across the southeastern region amid growing concerns over undocumented migrants. Success in Abia State could prompt the Federal Ministry of Interior to replicate the collaborative model across other high-risk Nigerian states.
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