Nigeria has deported 62 undocumented migrants from Mali, returning them to a country currently under military rule.
According to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the group, which included 51 men and 11 women, were detained for illegal entry and deported through official channels.
This move highlights ongoing concerns over irregular migration across West Africa's porous borders and increased scrutiny of regional movement.
The Controller of the command, Mr. Tony Akuneme, disclosed in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that the group consisted of 51 males and 11 females.
Akuneme further explained that the Mali nationals were escorted from the NIS headquarters in Abuja to the Illela Border in Sokoto by a team of eight officers, led by Insp. Mamoud Sadiq, in two buses.
The surge in illegal migration from Mali is partly linked to its shifting leadership between civilian and military rule.
The latest coup occurred on May 24, 2021, when Colonel Assimi Goïta seized power by arresting the interim president and prime minister. Since then, limited political freedoms and poor economic conditions have pushed many Malians to seek better opportunities abroad.
As of February 2023, Mali hosted over 63,000 refugees and nearly 900 asylum seekers. Porous borders and weak enforcement further drive irregular migration.
Additionally, flooding has displaced over 73,000 people-mostly women and children-especially in the Ségou region, where urgent hygiene and health needs persist.
Nigeria's border challenges
Over the years, Nigeria has faced persistent challenges with cross-border migration from neighboring countries. In 2024 alone, the government deported 828 illegal immigrants for various immigration infractions.
These migrations are often triggered by insecurity and internal crises in the migrants' home countries.
Nigeria's porous borders play a major role in facilitating cross-border movements. In many border towns, there are little to no physical demarcation between Nigeria and its neighbors, making it easy for both people and illicit goods to move freely.
This includes the unchecked flow of arms and weapons, especially along borders such as the one with the Benin Republic.
From the east, militants periodically launch attacks from Cameroon.
But the most serious security threats emanate from the north, where Nigeria shares a highly porous 1,698 km border with Niger and Chad, both Lake Chad Basin countries.
Burkina Faso and Mali, not far from Nigeria's northwest, add to the regional instability.
According to The Punch, there are more than 320 unmanned illegal routes through which contraband, illicit drugs, and weapons are smuggled into Nigeria.
These routes pose a grave challenge to national security and endanger public safety.
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