By Bill W. Cooper
The Commissioner General of the Liberia Immigration Services (LIS), Robert Buddy, has alarmed over the dangerous condition of the Liberia, Ivory Coast border.
Commissioner Buddy at the same time cautioned that as geopolitical tensions rise and regional security remains a concern for a potential escalation of violence, there is an urgent need to safeguard the borders of Liberia, especially the Liberia, Ivory Coast border to maintain stability and protect national interests.
He stressed, “The border with Sierra Leone is relatively calm, and the border with Guinea poses a medium threat level, but the border with Ivory Coast is of utmost concern.”
Speaking at the Information Ministry over the weekend, Commissioner Buddy further revealed that over time, fugitives committing dangerous crimes in Ivory Coast had fled to Liberia through Nimba, Maryland, and other counties along the border with that country.
He further indicated that people commit major crimes in Ivory Coast, killing their own citizens and even murdering their wives, and they cross freely into Liberia without being arrested.
However, the LIS boss said with the help of international partners, Liberia Immigration Services was able to apprehend some of those dangerous individuals and hand them over to Ivorian authorities for prosecution.
He also emphasizes the urgent need for robust surveillance and strategic measures to ensure the integrity and fortification of this vital border, and thereby disclosed that with the assistance of local residents along these borders, they are able to track illegal entries into the country, particularly people who crossed over to register during the biometric voter registration exercise.
Commissioner Buddy also mentioned that immigration officers along the border arrested several individuals, including an officer from Ivory Coast, who came to test the system in Liberia.
He noted that there are bad apples within the immigration service tarnishing the reputation of the institution, but he and his team are working tirelessly to apprehend them; a task they have been carrying out consistently.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner General also revealed that the LIS has deployed mobile and foot patrols equipped with arms to protect the various borders especially, with Ivory Coast.