NBC Must Clearly Demarcate Nigeria’s Borders With Benin Republic – Dapo Abiodun

The Ogun State Government has come out to beg the Federal Government to immediately secure the release of a Nigerian citizen currently languishing in detention in the Benin Republic.

The state recently revealed this via a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, one Pastor Kunle Garb, a resident of Igbokofi village in the Yewa North Local Government Area of the state, was abducted at the village market last week by gendarmes (Beninese police), and the Benin Republic police actually crossed illegally into the Nigerian territory to carry out the shamefulact after scaring away traders and other Nigerians at the market.

The governor added that the National Boundary Commission should step up actions to clearly demarcate Nigeria’s international borders with Benin Republic asap.

His words, “Pastor Garb, an activist, who has been consistently campaigning against the incessant harassment of Nigerians by the Beninese in attempts to forcefully annex the Nigerian territory was taken away in a Gestapo manner by the armed security agents from the neighbouring country.”

“Pastor Garb has since been charged and remanded under inhuman conditions in the Benin Republic and prevented from having access to his lawyers, doctors and members of his family.”

“In a protest to the Federal Government, Gov Dapo Abiodun narrated the ordeal of Nigerians living in the border towns of the state and Benin Republic. He also called for prompt actions by relevant federal authorities to prevent further harassment of Nigerian citizens and encroachment on the Nigerian territorial borders.”

“The governor also called on the National Boundary Commission to step up actions to clearly demarcate Nigeria’s international borders with Benin Republic, while calling on Nigeria’s security agents to properly secure Nigerians in the border communities and our country’s borders with the neighbouring country.”