The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Command, has arrested 20 foreign nationals in the Danbare area of Kumbotso Local Government Area over illegal entry into the country.

The State Commandant, Mohammed Hassan-Agalama, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Kano, saying the suspects hail from Sudan, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.

“The suspects include one from Cameroon, one from Niger, 12 from Sudan, and six from Chad,” Hassan-Agalama said.

He explained that the arrests followed credible intelligence and a coordinated operation by NSCDC operatives. Preliminary investigations revealed that most of the suspects could not provide valid travel or identification documents, raising concerns about their activities within the state.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects included 10 Android phones. Hassan-Agalama added, “The Corps is currently profiling and investigating the suspects to ascertain their mission and possible links to any unlawful activities. Relevant agencies have been duly notified, and necessary steps are being taken in line with extant laws.”

The commandant also reiterated the NSCDC’s commitment to safeguarding critical national assets and maintaining internal security, urging the public to remain vigilant and assist security agencies with timely information.

One of the suspects, Idrisa Ila from Niger Republic, told reporters that he had been living in Kano for three years, engaging in trading activities. He said he met some of the other suspects via Facebook, who planned to travel to Sudan through Chad, using Nigeria as a transit point.

“They told me they did not have enough money to continue their journey to Sudan and decided to stay in Nigeria for some time,” Ila explained.

He added that the group initially requested temporary accommodation, sending money for him to secure a house. “I was expecting only five persons, but more individuals later arrived and occupied the residence,” he said.

According to Ila, local residents became suspicious due to the number of occupants and their inability to speak Hausa or English, prompting them to alert authorities.

He confirmed that he had valid documents but could not verify the legal status of the others, who had been in Kano for over 10 days before their arrest.