The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Oyo State has arrested 40 suspected illegal residents during an operation in the Akinyele Local Government Area.
State Comptroller of Immigration, Tayo Dada, confirmed the arrests, which followed intelligence regarding undocumented foreign nationals in the area.
Those arrested include 27 Cameroonians, 10 Beninese, two Ghanaians, and one Togolese. The group, comprised of 32 men and eight women aged between 18 and 35, were unable to produce valid travel documents or residence permits.
Investigations suggest they entered Nigeria through illegal border crossings. Thirty of the detainees claimed to be online marketers, while 10 identified themselves as farmers.
Comptroller Dada stated that their presence in Nigeria violated immigration laws and emphasised the NIS’s commitment to enforcing these laws and maintaining national security.
The Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, has directed the immediate repatriation of the individuals to their respective countries. Mr. Dada reiterated the NIS’s resolve to combat illegal migration and urged adherence to proper documentation procedures to avoid penalties.
