PUNCH
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has arrested and detained about 800 Nigerians for various offences bordering on irregular migration.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Head, Public Relations Unit, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Gabriel Odu, on Friday.
The Saudi authorities said 45,458 illegal migrants were in the country, hence the need to get rid of the undocumented foreigners.
The clampdown by the Saudi authorities began in October 2022.
The Federal Government, however, urged Nigerians travelling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to do proper documentation, noting that Saudi authorities have heightened a clampdown on irregular migrants.
The statement read, “The attention of the Management of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, has been drawn to a communication from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Saudi Arabian authorities intensifying crackdown on undocumented foreigners in their Country.
“The Letter stated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has between October and December 2022, intensified joint operations across the Country targeted at riding the Kingdom of undocumented irregular migrants.
“In the Communication to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Saudi Arabian government noted that about 45,458 foreigners ranging from violation of residency rules, illegal border crossing attempts and irregular migrants for labour-related offences are in the country.
