DSS Urges Enhanced Border Security for 2027 Elections

The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued a warning regarding the potential influx of illicit arms and mercenaries into Nigeria, which could threaten the integrity of the 2027 general elections. Patrick Ikenweiwe, the deputy director-general of Operations and Intelligence at the DSS, emphasized the need for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to bolster border surveillance and migration control.

He stated that electoral periods often attract criminal networks that exploit porous borders. Ikenweiwe highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration, asserting that no single agency can secure the electoral process independently.

He praised the NIS for its Performance Evaluation and Results Management Information System and urged newly promoted comptrollers to maintain professionalism. The Comptroller-General of Immigration, represented by Deputy Comptroller-General Franca Nwanneka, echoed the need for collective vigilance and political neutrality during the elections, stressing the critical role of the Immigration Service in national security.