Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 65 Battalion have arrested 24 foreign nationals during a security operation at a suspected hideout in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The operation was conducted by personnel of the 81 Division as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate criminal activities, illegal immigration and other security threats within its area of responsibility.
According to the Army, the raid was launched after receiving credible intelligence about the presence of undocumented foreign nationals in the area.
Working alongside members of a local vigilante group, the troops stormed a fenced compound in Imokun, located within the Odo-Noforija/Poka area of Epe, where they apprehended 24 individuals comprising 15 men and nine women.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are citizens of six African countries, including Cameroon, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, the Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau.
Military authorities said initial profiling was carried out to determine the immigration status of the suspects, the reasons for their stay in Nigeria and whether they were involved in any unlawful activities.
The Army also disclosed that efforts are underway to identify and question the owner of the property where the foreign nationals were found to establish the circumstances surrounding their residence.
Following the operation, all 24 suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command, for further investigation and appropriate action in accordance with the country’s immigration laws.
The General Officer Commanding the 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, commended the troops for their professionalism and urged them to sustain operations aimed at tackling criminal elements and other security threats across Lagos and neighbouring communities.
He also reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to working with other security agencies to promote peace, public safety and national security.
