The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has urged the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to checkmate the influx of illegal immigrants and ensure proper documentation of foreigners in Imo state.

Director General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, made the call on Friday in a one-day security workshop to enhance security management and awareness in Imo.

Represented by the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Agnes Ajoku, the DG said some of the crimes in the state were carried out by illegal immigrants whose identities were unknown to the government.

Mr Jamoh called on both military and paramilitary organisations in the state to build a stronger synergy in tackling insecurity in the state.

He said the essence of the security workshop with relevant stakeholders was to review the security situation in the state and agree on a possible solution to the menace.

He said that security should not be left in the hands of uniform personnel alone and called on the general public to cooperate effectively with security agencies in the state.

The summit was organised in collaboration with the Imo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

The DG commended Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo for his consistent efforts to tackle insecurity and to ensure that peace was brought back to the state.

The Head of Imo/Abia Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ifeanyi Nnaji, urged the government to tackle insecurity from the grassroots and restore the core value of Nigerians.

“We need to tackle insecurity from the grassroots and bring back our core values. Quick money syndrome is one of the greatest challenges we are facing today; the menace of quick money must be seen as a national emergency.

“You cannot separate insecurity from disaster, a society with high insecurity will be vulnerable to disaster,” he said.

Among security agencies at the workshop were representatives of the police, army, civil defence, immigration, state command of the correctional centre, customs and SSS.

(NAN)