IBADAN, OYO STATE – The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested 40 foreign nationals residing illegally in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State. The Nigeria Immigration Service confirmed the arrests were part of ongoing raids to enforce immigration laws.
Oyo State Comptroller of the NIS, Tayo Dada, said, “The arrests were made based on credible intelligence.” The individuals were found in various hideouts. Those arrested include 27 Cameroonians, 10 Beninese, two Ghanaians, and one Togolese national.
Dada stated that eight of the arrested are female, and 32 are male. Their ages range from 18 to 35 years. Ten identified themselves as farmers; the other 30 claimed to work in online marketing.
All 40 individuals entered Nigeria through unauthorized routes. They lacked proper documentation, including residence cards or travel papers. The Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, has ordered their repatriation.
Nigeria faces challenges with border security. The country has over 1,479 illegal border crossing points and a 4,047 km land border.
The federal government initiated a N52 billion e-border surveillance system in 2019. This system monitors border activities in real-time at 80 border posts. The Nigeria Immigration Service uses this technology to support its operations.
