The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has intercepted two people in Adamawa State with ₦34 million allegedly connected to a kidnapping syndicate during a security operation.

The Adamawa State Comptroller of the Service, Sani Sule-Jega, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Yola, the state capital.

He said preliminary investigations indicated that the two suspects claimed the money was meant to pay ransom for their abducted brother.

In another operation, officers of the command also intercepted 17 irregular migrants at Rumde Baruw in Yola North Local Government Area.

The undocumented migrants were discovered in a private three-bedroom apartment during a targeted operation by immigration personnel.

Sule-Jega said preliminary profiling revealed that 13 of the migrants were Cameroonian nationals, comprising eight males and five females, while the remaining four were Chadian nationals, all males.

The Comptroller noted that the operation exposed a growing trend in which undocumented migrants now avoid hotels and other recognised lodging facilities by staying in private, unregistered apartments.

He said the Service had intensified surveillance and intelligence-driven operations to detect and tackle emerging patterns of irregular migration across Adamawa State.

Sule-Jega reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity, improving migration management and strengthening border security, urging residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information that would assist security agencies in maintaining peace and security.

The two suspects and the recovered ₦34 million have been taken into custody, while the Comptroller General of Immigration has directed that they, along with the recovered cash, be handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation in line with established procedures and applicable laws.