The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, has provided an update on the ongoing 2020/2021 recruitment into the service.

Babandede said that NIS invited 70,000 applicants for examination and only 50,000 appeared and sat for the examination across the country.

He said that 6,000 candidates would be shortlisted for final physical screening and only those that are fit and qualified will be recruited as officers of the NIS in the next two weeks.

According to him, appointment into the Service is neither for sale nor for the children of the rich.

Babandede said this on Saturday in Yola that the appointment was basically for those that are fit and qualified.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Immigration Boss was in Adamawa on a two-day official visit, during which he inaugurated a Sick Bay Centre and a Forward Operation Base (FOB) at Gurin and Belel in Fufore and Maiha Local Government Areas respectively.

He said that when he assumed office in 2016, he ensured that no vacant position was sold to the children of the rich, adding that the poor should be treated equally with the rich without any discriminations.

Babandede said that recently, 370,000 people applied for the 4,900 available vacant positions from across the country for the 2020/2021 recruitment.

“After an intensive screening, we invited 70,000 applicants for examination and 50,000 appeared and sat for the examination.

“We shortlisted 6,000 candidates for final physical screening and only those that are fit and qualified will be recruited as officers of the Service in the next two weeks.

“We will make sure we do justice and the appointments will be shared equally among all the 774 local government areas of the country,’’ Babandede said.

He said that the children of the poor have the right to apply for the job alongside the so-called children of the rich.

Babandede recalled that in 1985, he got recruited into the Service without knowing anybody or any top government official.

According to him, we will make sure we restore the lost glory of the Service for the betterment of our future generation.

In his remark, Alhaji Idi Amin, the Chairman of Maiha Local Government Area, appreciated the Federal Government for establishing the base.

Amin said that the local government got the support of both the Federal and the state government to organise a meeting with the border communities between Nigeria and Cameroon.

He said that during the meeting, a significant security issue bordering, especially, on border banditry was discussed and the communities agreed to work together to end criminal activities in their respective communities.

*File for Muhammad Babandede, Controller General of Nigerian Immigration Service

NAN/ Daily Independent

Suspected herdsmen hack mother, child, one other to death in Ogun

Unknown number of herdsmen on Friday night invaded Igbooro, Oja-Odan in the Yewa-North Local Government area of Ogun State, killing three and injuring two villagers.

The marauding herdsmen reportedly invaded the village, closed to Eggua in Oja-Odan around 11 pm on Friday, shot indiscriminately, and set ablaze three houses and storehouses in the village.

A mother and her child were among the three persons killed in their huts while two persons were said to be in critical conditions after they were shot by the herdsmen.

It was also learnt that many people, including children, sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The attack came barely 24 hours after five persons were killed in Owode Ketu, Ogun State.

Confirming the incident, Baale of Igbooro, Abidemi Akorede, said he had counted three corpses as of the time of speaking with our correspondent on Saturday morning.

Akorede said two villagers, a man, and a woman have been rushed to a nearby hospital after they sustained gunshots injuries.

The village head said, “Some Fulani herdsmen invaded our village last night. As they arrived, they set ablaze some houses and started shooting sporadically, they macheted a child to death where he hid.

“They hacked a mother and her child to death. I have counted three corpses, two have been rushed to the hospital, they are in critical condition after they were shot.

“They did not come with their cattle for grazing. They just stormed the village, killed people, and destroyed a lot of property.

“Three houses were set ablaze and one commercial bus. Silos were also burnt with the grains.”

When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.

Oyeyemi said a team of policemen has been drafted to the scene to ensure the safety of lives and property.

He said, “We are aware and the command has deployed policemen to the place.”