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 with members of a local vigilante group, followed intelligence reports on the presence of undocumented foreign nationals in the Imokun area along the Odo-Noforija/Poka axis of Epe.
The Army said the suspects comprise 15 males and nine females from six countries: Cameroon (10), Togo (6), Côte d’Ivoire (3), the Republic of Benin (3), Burkina Faso (1) and Guinea-Bissau (1).
According to the Army, preliminary investigations are focused on determining the suspects’ immigration status, reasons for their stay in Nigeria and any possible involvement in criminal activities.
Authorities are also working to identify and question the owner of the compound where they were found.
The suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command, on Thursday, July 16, for further investigation, profiling and appropriate action in line with Nigeria’s immigration laws.
Commending the troops, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, urged personnel to sustain operations against criminal elements, illegal immigrants and other security threats, reaffirming the Division’s commitment to supporting security agencies in maintaining peace and public safety across its area of responsibility.
