The Defence Headquarters on Wednesday warned Nigerians against approaching unauthorized agencies and individuals for national identification registration.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) according to DHQ, remained the only agency responsible for registration and issuance of the national identity card.
Col. Rabe Abubakar, Acting Director of Defence Information, in Abuja said the military authorities had issued a ‘’red alert’’ against the prevailing incidences of unauthorized reproduction of the national
identity card by unscrupulous elements in the society the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
identity card by unscrupulous elements in the society the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Unauthorised production and distribution of the cards could engender ‘’serious security breach in the ongoing counter-insurgency operation in the North-East’’ the Defence spokesperson said, adding that the approved chip-based national identity card, has over 18 security features, some of which are not visible to the naked eyes.
"The implication of fake national ID cards in circulation is that Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East also used similar method of identification for their members in the past who were nabbed by the military.
"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,’’ it said.
The statement said the alert would assist the security forces to contain infiltration of illegal aliens who may acquire the cards to legalise their migration into the country to support the terrorists.
It, therefore, appealed to members of the public to report any attempt by unauthorized persons to issue cards similar to the national identity cards to the security agencies.
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