Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 65 Battalion have arrested 24 foreign nationals during a security operation targeting a suspected criminal hideout in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Drivetvnews gathered that the operation, conducted within the 81 Division Area of Responsibility in collaboration with members of the Vigilante Group, followed credible intelligence on the presence of undocumented foreign nationals in a secluded compound at Imokun in the Odo-Noforija/Poka area.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, the security team apprehended 24 suspects, comprising 15 men and nine women.
Preliminary profiling revealed that the arrested individuals include 10 Cameroonians, six Togolese, three Ivorians, three nationals of the Republic of Benin, one Burkinabé, and one citizen of Guinea-Bissau.
The Army said investigations have commenced to determine the immigration status of the suspects, the purpose of their stay in Nigeria, and whether they have links to any criminal activities.
Authorities also disclosed that efforts are underway to identify and question the owner of the compound where the suspects were found to establish the circumstances surrounding their residence.
Following initial investigations, the 24 foreign nationals were handed over to the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on July 16, 2026, for further profiling and necessary 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 urged them to sustain ongoing operations aimed at preventing criminal elements and illegal immigrants from finding safe havens within the division’s area of responsibility.
He reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to working closely with other security agencies to strengthen public safety and maintain peace across Lagos State and other areas under the division.
