Counter-terrorism: DHQ warns on fake National I.D cards racketeering

By OKOSUN OKHUELEIGBE

Nigerian military authorities on Wednesday in Abuja, issued a red alert warning people to be mindful of unauthorized reproduction of the National Identity Cards by some unscrupulous elements in society against the backdrop of prevailing insecurity.

Making this known, the Director, Defence Information, (DDI) Col Rabe Abubakar said in view of the prevailing racketeering, it became imperative to warn members of the public not process their national identification from other sources apart from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Explaining that such illegal reproduction of the national ID cards could engender serious security breach in the ongoing counterinsurgency operation in the northeast, Col Abubakar added that the public must be kept in the know that the approved national ID card which is a chip-based card, has over eighteen security features some of which are not visible to the naked eyes distinguishing it from any of its kinds and can only be issued by the NIMC.

He pointed out that the implication of fake national ID cards in circulation is that Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast are using similar method of identification for their members who have been nabbed by the military and paraded before newsmen noting that the authentic National I.D card printing has laser engraving which stands it out from the fake one.

Part of the statement read, “The general public should guard against patronizing unauthorized agents to obtain their national identification as there are racketeers issuing fake cards for monetary and criminal gains. This would go a long way to assist the security forces in the containment of infiltration of illegal aliens who may wish to acquire the cards to legalize their migration into the country to support the terrorists in the fight against the Nigerian Armed Forces,” Col Abubakar reiterated.

He appealed to the public to report to the security agencies any attempt by unauthorized persons to issue cards similar to the National I.D cards emphasizing that security is a collective responsibility of every citizen.