DAMATURU — The Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Immigration Service have agreed to deepen cooperation on border surveillance, migration control and intelligence sharing as part of efforts to strengthen security in Yobe State and the wider North-East.
The commitment was made on Wednesday when the Commander, Headquarters Sector 2, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, Brigadier General Edet Effiong, received the newly posted Comptroller of the NIS Yobe State Command, Comptroller IZ Abubakar, during a courtesy visit to the sector headquarters in Damaturu.
Effiong stressed that sustained inter-agency cooperation was critical to preventing terrorists, traffickers, smugglers and other criminal networks from exploiting vulnerabilities around Nigeria’s borders.
He identified effective information sharing, coordinated surveillance and closer engagement with border communities as key measures for improving security.
The commander said a coordinated security architecture would help agencies respond more effectively to threats that cut across conventional security and migration concerns.
He also pledged the readiness of Operation HADIN KAI to work closely with the Immigration Service and other relevant agencies, stressing that improved coordination, professionalism and the appropriate use of technology would strengthen border monitoring and operational effectiveness.
For Yobe, stronger border cooperation is particularly significant because the state shares an international boundary with Niger Republic and remains part of the wider security environment affected by insurgency and cross-border criminal activity.
Border management also extends beyond counter-terrorism. Immigration authorities are responsible for addressing challenges including irregular migration, human trafficking, migrant smuggling and other forms of cross-border crime.
The NIS has previously demonstrated the importance of sustained surveillance in Yobe. In January 2025, immigration officers intercepted a vehicle near the Geidam Control Post in Dunari carrying 21 minors suspected to be victims of human trafficking while they were being transported towards Niger Republic.
Such incidents underline the importance of timely intelligence and cooperation between agencies operating within the same border environment.
Responding during the visit, Abubakar commended the Nigerian Army for its support to the Immigration Service and pledged to deepen the existing partnership.
He said the NIS would enhance personnel capacity and operational readiness while strengthening border surveillance and migration control across Yobe.
The two officials agreed that closer coordination would be necessary to improve the flow of intelligence, protect border communities and prevent criminal elements from exploiting gaps between security and border-management agencies.
The latest engagement also builds on Effiong’s broader emphasis on inter-agency cooperation since taking over command of Sector 2. The commander assumed the position in May 2026 and pledged to consolidate existing security gains while strengthening operational effectiveness and cooperation with local communities.
The meeting ended with the signing of the visitors’ book, presentation of souvenirs and a group photograph.
The renewed partnership places greater emphasis on a coordinated approach to border security, combining military operations, immigration enforcement, intelligence gathering, technology and community engagement to protect Yobe and the wider North-East.
