In the aftermath of the military coup that deposed President Mohammed Bazoum’s democratically-elected government, Nigeria has taken decisive action and closed its border with Niger Republic.
The Acting Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, made this announcement on Friday at the Illela border in Sokoto state.
Due to the current situation in Niger, movement across the borders has been restricted.
Adeniyi advised Nigerians intending to travel to Niger to stay home for their safety, permitting only Nigerien nationals returning home to cross the border.
Adeniyi said “Sokoto and Niger Republic, we are a homogeneous society, with the same language, religion and culture, but we have a colonial boundary which we must respect.”
He also the service had deployed personnel to block any unconventional routes that foreigners might attempt to use for infiltration.
Daily News 24 observed that the busy environment around the border has since gone scanty after the closure of the border as depicted on the image below: