[punchng.com] The
Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, on Tuesday signed a
memorandum of understanding with the Italian Police and the Interpol on
illegal immigration, human trafficking and transnational crime.
The
memorandum was signed with the Chief of Italian Police, Mr. Antonio
Manganelli, while the Interpol delegation was led by the body’s
Secretary-General, Mr. Ronald K. Noble.
Speaking at the
occasion, Okiro disclosed that the purpose of the visit was to
formalise the pilot project on the identification and repatriation of
illegal immigrants from Italy back to Nigeria.
The Police boss
disclosed that the project, which requires the training of five Nigeria
Police officers by their Italian counterparts at no cost to Nigeria,
was commendable.
He said that the Italian- trained Nigerian
police officers would work with the Italian Police experts at the
border Police check-points within the major Italian national airports
and habours.
He said this would help their Italian counterparts to identify organised crimes in the Italian territory for a specific period.
He thanked the Chief of the Italian Police for his government’s generosity and love for the Nigeria Police.
He also assured him that the Nigeria Police had enough manpower requires support in the areas of training and equipment.
In
his remarks, Manganelli, who expressed his appreciation for the warm
welcome accorded him by the Nigeria Police, disclosed that the Italian
Government would ensure that immigrants in Italy were given a conducive
environment to operate.
He informed the IGP that there were about 30,000 Nigerians in his country.
He, however, did not give the number of illegal immigrants among them.
He
decried the devastating effects of criminal activities in Italy which
he said, were aggravated by the debilitating effects of illegal
immigration.
He revealed that one out of every three offences
in Italy was being committed by a stranger, “who in most cases, is an
illegal immigrant.”
Manganelli further noted that the Italian
authorities were collaborating with other governments, including
Nigeria’s, to checkmate criminal organisations which are involved in
human trafficking, illegal immigration, drug-related and organised
crimes.
Noble, on his part, stated that the MoU would ensure
that illegal immigrants were given the opportunity to return to their
countries safely and without hassles.
Source: http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200902181052992
