Singida — THE immigration department here is holding 12 Ethiopian and Somali immigrants for allegedly entering into the country illegally.

The Assistant Immigration Officer (AIO) for Singida Region, Mr Joseph Mshana, told reporters in his office yesterday that out of the twelve immigrants, nine are Ethiopians while three others are Somalis.

According to him, the illegal immigrants were nabbed in Kititimo - about two kilometres from Singida town along the Singida- Arusha Highway. He said, the foreigners were apprehended at 05:00pm, soon after they had disembarked from Mtei Bus from Arusha.

"Actually, we were tipped off by a Good Samaritan, who had become suspicious of the foreigners. As we reached the area, we found them hiding in the nearby thickets," Mshana explained. The AIO said that after questioning them they revealed that they were heading for South Africa to look for greener pastures.

Mr Mshana said that the immigrants told him that life back home in their respective countries was unbearable. The list of those nabbed include three Somalis identified as Ahmed Mohamed Mahamoud, Mohamed Abdi Osman and Yassin Mohamed Hassan.

The Ethiopians are Adinan Abraham Haji, Tazama Dijamo Walano, Pakala Agore Mancha, Alam Ayele Gabrisilasie, Tasfai Sugart Kidisu and Atele Lipanso Gafje. Others include Afendi Aden Suleyman, Abraham Mirato Shanko and Muhidin Sufian Ahmed. All the immigrants are aged between 20 and 35 years old. The immigration official said that after investigations are completed, the nabbed foreigners would be arraigned so that their fate could be determined.