The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service, has arrested 125 foreign nationals over alleged immigration-related offences, with 82 of them set for repatriation.
The Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Zone A, Mohamed Adamu, disclosed this in Lagos on Thursday.
He said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force on March 30 in some parts of the state, including Agege, Alimosho, Ebute Metta and Badagry.
According to him, the exercise was intelligence-driven and aimed at strengthening internal security and migration management.
He disclosed that those arrested comprised 100 nationals of the Republic of Niger and 25 from the Republic of Mali.
He said, “forty three of the migrants were found with valid ECOWAS Travel Certificates and National Identity Biometric Cards, while 82 others had no valid travel documents, residence permits or identifiable means of livelihood.
He added, “The affected individuals had been classified as prohibited immigrants and would be repatriated in line with the Immigration Act 2015.”
He said that the operation was conducted professionally and in line with human rights standards.
He also noted that the Service would sustain the crackdown. “It is a continuous exercise. The main aim is national security and to reduce crime and criminality to the barest minimum,” he stressed.
