Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 65 Battalion have arrested 24 foreign nationals during a raid on a suspected hideout in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The operation, carried out by the 81 Division in collaboration with local vigilantes, followed credible intelligence on the presence of undocumented foreign nationals in the area.
According to the Army, the suspects were arrested at a fenced compound in Imokun along the Odo-Noforija/Poka axis of Epe. Those arrested comprise 15 males and nine females.
Preliminary profiling identified the suspects as:
10 Cameroonians
6 Togolese
3 Ivorians
3 nationals of the Republic of Benin
1 Burkinabè
1 Guinea-Bissau national
The Army said investigations are ongoing to determine their immigration status, purpose of stay in Nigeria and any possible involvement in criminal activities. Authorities are also working to identify and question the owner of the property where the suspects were found.
The 24 suspects have been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command, for further investigation, profiling and appropriate action in line with immigration laws.
The General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, commended the troops for their professionalism and urged them to sustain operations against criminal elements, illegal immigrants and other security threats across Lagos and neighbouring areas.