Army Arrests 24 Foreign Nationals in Raid on Suspected Hideout in Lagos

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 as part of ongoing operations to rid the 81 Division Area of Responsibility (AOR) of criminal elements, illegal immigrants and other security threats.

The operation, conducted in collaboration with members of a local Vigilante Group, followed credible intelligence on the presence of undocumented foreign nationals within the battalion's area of responsibility.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, the troops stormed a secluded fenced compound located at Imokun in the Odo-Noforija/Poka axis of Epe, where they arrested 24 foreign nationals comprising 15 males and nine females.

According to the Army, preliminary profiling identified the suspects as nationals of six West and Central African countries. The breakdown showed that 10 were from Cameroon, six from Togo, three from Côte d'Ivoire, three from the Republic of Benin, one from Burkina Faso and one from Guinea-Bissau.

The statement said initial investigations were aimed at determining the suspects' immigration status, purpose of stay in Nigeria and any possible involvement in criminal activities.

It added that security agencies are also working to identify and question the owner of the property where the suspects were found in order to establish the circumstances surrounding their residence and activities at the location.

Following the operation, the suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command, on July 16, 2026, for further investigation, profiling and appropriate administrative action in line with Nigeria's immigration laws.

Commending the troops for their professionalism and vigilance, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, directed personnel to sustain ongoing operations and intensify efforts to deny criminal elements, illegal immigrants and other security threats safe haven within the division's area of responsibility.

He also reaffirmed the 81 Division's commitment to working closely with other security agencies to strengthen peace, security and public safety across Lagos State and its environs.