Troops Arrest 24 Foreign Nationals In Raid On Suspected Hideout In Lagos

Troops of the 65 Battalion of the Nigerian Army have arrested 24 foreign nationals during a raid on a suspected hideout in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State as part of ongoing security operations targeting criminal elements and illegal immigrants.

The operation, carried out by troops of the 81 Division Area of Responsibility (AOR), followed credible intelligence reports on the presence of undocumented foreign nationals in the area.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, the troops, working alongside members of a local vigilante group, stormed a secluded fenced compound at Imokun in the Odo-Noforija/Poka axis of Epe.

During the operation, security personnel apprehended 24 foreign nationals comprising 15 males and 9 females.

According to the statement, the preliminary profiling showed that the suspects are citizens of six West and Central African countries. They include ten Cameroonians, six Togolese, three Ivorians, three nationals of the Republic of Benin, one Burkinabe and one citizen of Guinea-Bissau.

The Army said initial investigations focused on determining the suspects’ immigration status, reasons for residing in the area and whether they had any links to criminal activities.

It added that efforts were also underway to identify and question the owner of the compound to establish the circumstances surrounding the residence of the foreign nationals and their activities at the location.

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

Reacting to the operation, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, commended the troops for their professionalism and vigilance.

He urged personnel to sustain ongoing security operations and intensify efforts to deny criminal elements, illegal immigrants and other security threats safe havens within the Division’s area of responsibility.

Babalola also reaffirmed the 81 Division’s commitment to working with other security agencies to maintain peace, security and public safety across Lagos and other areas under its operational jurisdiction.