Soldiers from the 65 Battalion of the Nigerian Army conducted a targeted operation in the Epe area of Lagos State, resulting in the detention of 24 foreign citizens. This mission was part of a broader mandate to clear the 81 Division’s territory of undocumented migrants and potential security risks.
Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, stated that the raid was launched after reliable information surfaced regarding illegal residents in the Imokun district. The forces, working alongside the local Vigilante Group, secured a walled facility where they discovered 15 men and nine women. The group included individuals from Cameroon, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Guinea-Bissau.
Following the arrests, authorities launched an investigation into the suspects’ backgrounds and the legal status of their stay. Officials are also currently questioning the owner of the property to determine why these individuals were residing there. On July 16, 2026, the detainees were transferred to the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service for formal processing.
Major General Adebayo Babalola, the General Officer Commanding the 81 Division, praised the troops for their diligent work. He instructed his officers to maintain high levels of readiness and continue their collaboration with other security agencies to ensure regional stability.
