21st July, 2017
Mohammed Kyari, the Comptroller of Immigration in Jigawa has denied extortion of cattle breeders in border towns by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
He told newsmen in Dutse on Friday that he was not aware of the matter.
“Nobody has ever brought this matter to my knowledge; how can my people do that after all we are all Nigerians, however I will investigate the matter.
“If it is found that the matter is true, the culprits will be brought to book.
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“I have invited the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah, we are going to sit down together with him and he will assist us in our investigation,” the Comptroller said
The Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Jigawa Chapter, Alhaji Musa Gagarawa, had accused officials of the service of extorting money and animals from the association’s members at the border areas.
Gagarawa told newsmen in Dutse on Friday that officials operating around Malammamadori, Gumel and Maigatari Local Government areas taxed them of monies ranging from N6, 000 to N10, 000 each time they were at the border towns.
He said that failure to comply, led to the surrender of an animal from the herds that would be commensurate with the amount if they did not have the money to give to the officials.
The chairman said that the immigration officials claimed the tax on the herdsmen was because they were grazing in border areas.