Troops Intercept 174 Able-Bodied Nigerians Crossing to Niger Republic

Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) operating under Sector 4 in Diffa, Republic of Niger, have intercepted 174 unarmed, able-bodied Nigerian men attempting to cross into Niger border communities.

The suspects were intercepted at Gueskeru, a critical border town linking Yobe State in Nigeria with Niger.

According to a statement by Lt-Col Olaniyi Osoba, Chief Military Information Officer of the MNJTF, the men claimed to be travelling to the Lake Chad region for fishing activities.

However, the porous borders and their proximity to terrorist-infested regions raised significant security concerns.

Osoba highlighted that the border areas between Nigeria and Niger have become safe havens for terrorist groups, including the recently identified Lakurawa group, notorious for its violent acts against innocent communities.

Given the vulnerability of the border towns between Nigeria and the Republic of Niger, the intercepted suspects raised serious security concerns because allowing such a large number of able-bodied men to access terrorist-infested areas may pose a significant threat, Osoba explained.

Troops from Sector 4 decisively halted the group’s journey and commenced detailed profiling and interrogation to determine their motives and ensure regional security.

Investigations are ongoing to assess whether the group posed any potential threat or had connections to terrorist activities in the area.

While such travels raise eyebrows from the security forces, the interception of such a large number of able-bodied individuals trying to leave Nigeria through a porous, insecure environment poses a threat to the country amid the economic crisis.

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