A Nigerian National, Kevin Chibueze Oparah, age 51, has been arrested by authorities of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) with four (4) Nigerian passports in his possession.
Speaking to the Hot Pepper on the issue, the LIS Spokesman, Colonel Abraham Ahmed Dolley, told the paper that suspect Oparah got arrested in Saniquelle, Nimba County on August 22, 2022 at an illegal check point.
There are a number of illegal entry points into Liberia, thus creating more challenges for officers of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) across the country.
Colonel Dolley said during the preliminary investigation conducted with suspect Oparah it was discovered that the suspect was in the possession of four Nigerian passports.
Oparah told the LIS investigators that he was licensed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria to issue passports and resident permits to the public.
Oparah’s action is in violation of the Alien and Nationality Law of Liberia. Accordingly, he has been charged with illegal entry, among other crimes, by the LIS.
Colonel Dolley stated that the LIS has contacted their Nigerian counterpart to authenticate whether suspect Oparah is a real Nigerian citizen, as stated in his passport, and whether he got the authority from the Nigerian Government to issue travel documents, such as passport and resident permit.
In a related development, LIS Spokesperson Dolley disclosed the arrest of Mohammed Ali Bah, a young man believed to be a Fulani.
According to him, Ali Bah was arrested for using inciting messages on Radio Al-Falaah 95.1 FM against the workings of the LIS.
Dolley said Bah was in the habit of telling the public not to do business with the LIS because, according to him, LIS is a fake or bogus institution and Fula people are Liberians. In one of his talk shows, Bah said the Deputy Commissioner General for Naturalization at the LIS, Asatu Bah-Kenneth, is not in the interest of the Fulani community, and he wants her out.
