The Defence
Headquarters on Wednesday warned Nigerians against approaching unauthorized
agencies and individuals for national identification registration.
It said the
National Identity Management Commission remained the only agency responsible
for registration and issuance of the national identity card.
This is contained
in a statement by Rabe Abubakar, Acting Director of Defence Information, in
Abuja.
Mr. Abubakar 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.
He added that
unauthorised production and distribution of the cards could engender “serious
security breach in the ongoing counter-insurgency operation in the North-East”.
According to the
statement, the approved national identity card, which is a chip-based card, has
over 18 security features.
He explained that
some of the features were not visible to naked eyes, which distinguished the
card from any of its kinds and could only be issued by the NIMC.
“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.