THOUSANDS STRANDED AS NIGERIA SUDDENLY CLOSES SEME BORDER
The closure showed Nigerians streaming towards their country’s border from Benin Republic hoping they would be allowed into their country, while Benin Republic traders who had entered Nigeria to supply goods in the country were also stranded and prevented from returning to their country.
Penpushing further reports that, the development did not go down well with number of victims who were seen fuming about their ordeal, stressing the that failed early communication on the closure was unfair.
‘The Nigerian government closed the border without any information and we have thousands of Nigerians stranded in Benin Republic trying to come into Nigeria. The military is not allowing anybody to come in or go out through the land border”, a trader lamented
Penpushing also report that, fairly used car dealer identified as Alfred Eseoghene, lamented thus, “I came in through the bush partly because I have been working in Seme for years,”, while another Nigerian Oyelesi Mayowa on his Twitter said, “Nigeria immigrations are treating their fellow Nigeria’s (sic) like animals. I have been here since 6pm yesterday. I pity this country
The victims who were mostly travellers while speaking said officials at the border have declined to explain the cause of the closure, as at the time of filing this report
The spokesperson for the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Sunday James was also yet to give official reasons for the development but the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said an ongoing joint security exercise caused the disruption.
“A joint security exercise is ongoing to better secure the border. It will take several days and we have been working to ensure that it does not result in too much disruption for travellers”, Customs spokesperson, Joseph Attah said.
Penpushing reports that, authorities were unable to clarify why there was no formal announcement about the planned security exercise that was capable of causing such interruption to persons and businesses across the sub-region.
