on 18 April 2021, the Malawi Immigration and citizenship services in the Northern region in collaboration with Malawi Police Service officers based at Rumphi Police station apprehended 19 Ethiopian nationals and one Malawian.
According to Northern region immigration public relations officer, Sergeant Francis Chitambuli, Intelligence leant that the 19 Ethiopians were hiding around Mchenga area in Rumphi district hence collaborated deployment of the security officers who patrolled the area and found the said migrants hidden in a house belonging to one of the villagers there. The officers raided the house and made successful arrests including one Malawian.
“In a normal setting, the migrants are supposed to avail themselves at the port of entry and granted permission from immigration but the 19 Ethiopians decided to use unchartered routes”, Said Chitambuli.
Chitambuli added that the suspects will answer charges of illegal entry contrary to section 21(1) of the Malawi immigration act and the Malawian is to answer the offence of aiding and abetting illegal immigrants
All the 19 are currently being kept at Rumphi prison awaiting legal proceeding.
