Army detains 24 foreign nationals in Epe hideout operation
Troops from the 65 Battalion of the 81 Division Nigerian Army have apprehended 24 foreign nationals in a raid on a compound in Epe, Lagos State. The operation, led by Lt. Col. Musa Yahaya, targeted undocumented immigrants and potential security threats. The suspects, from six West and Central African countries, were found in a secluded area with the help of local vigilantes. Maj. Gen. Adebayo Babalola praised the troops for their professionalism during the operation.
What happened
- Lt. Col. Musa Yahaya announced that 24 foreign nationals, including 15 males and nine females, were arrested in Epe, Lagos State.
- The raid was carried out with the support of the Vigilante Group, following credible intelligence about undocumented immigrants.
- Preliminary checks revealed the suspects were from Cameroon, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Guinea-Bissau.
- The Nigerian Army has started investigating the suspects’ immigration status and their reasons for being in Nigeria.
- The suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Command, on July 16, 2026, for further investigation and administrative action.
