8 Ethiopians held over illegal entry

Eight Ethiopians have been apprehended by the immigration department in Tanga region for allegedly entering the country without relevant permits.

In an interview with The Guardian yesterday, Tanga regional immigration officer, Sixtus Nyaki said the undocumented Ethiopians were nabbed on Sunday while in two separate passengers’ buses owned by Hood Company. He said the buses were coming from Tarakea in Kilimanjaro region.

Nyaki said that after interrogations, the illegal immigrants claimed to have entered the country through a border at Tarakea in Kilimanjaro region via Kenya. He said the Ethiopians have said they were on transit to South Africa to search for green pastures.

He explained that nowadays most of the immigrants come in the country using buses unlike previously when they were coming via the Indian Ocean.

“Previously the illegal immigrant were using boats, but they now prefer buses. They are always assisted by Tanzanians who get paid for the job,” he noted.

According to Nyaki, they will be taken to court after the investigation is complete, adding that security has been strengthened at all border posts in Tanga region.

Last month, Police Force in Kilimanjaro Region arrested 12 illegal immigrants who were enroute to South Africa. Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Robert Boaz said the immigrants entered the country through illegal entry points (panya routes) at Mnoa village in Mwanga district.

However, mid this year, 43 immigrants from Ethiopia and Somalia were found dead in a truck in Dodoma Region. They were believed to have entered the country illegally via Mwanga district.

Investigation revealed that they died of suffocation and lack of food. However, data showed they were about 100 people in the truck.

Some bodies were thrown off the truck and dumped in the bushes after the driver of the truck realized some of the people he was smuggling had died.

Meanwhile, in December last year 20 Somali immigrants were found dead while en route to South Africa.

The arrests of illegal immigrants from Ethiopia and Somalia are increasing as they find Tanzania a territory as they make their way to South Africa.