The Lagos State Police Command rescued 38 foreign nationals from a possible mob attack in the Epe area on June 17 and launched an investigation into alleged illegal immigration.
Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani disclosed the operation during a briefing on June 23 at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja. The foreign nationals, who are citizens of Chad, Burkina Faso, Benin, Mali, Togo, Cameroon, and Ghana, were unable to provide satisfactory explanations for their presence.
Of the 38 individuals, 20 allegedly entered Nigeria illegally while 18 possessed valid ECOWAS travel documents. They are being profiled at the State Criminal Investigation Department before handover to the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Tijani stated that the intervention prevented a breakdown of law and order. He said, “We want to properly profile them and determine whether there is any criminal element to their activities before transferring them to immigration authorities for further processing.” Investigations continue with involvement from embassies and relevant agencies.
