Army Raids Epe Hideout, Arrests 24 Foreign Nationals

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 operations to rid the 81 Division Area of Responsibility of criminal elements, illegal immigrants and other security threats.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 81 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, the operation followed credible intelligence on the presence of undocumented foreign nationals within the battalion’s area of responsibility.

The statement said the troops, working alongside members of the Vigilante Group, stormed a secluded fenced compound at Imokun in the Odo-Noforija/Poka axis of Epe, where they arrested 24 suspects comprising 15 males and nine females.

It disclosed that preliminary profiling identified the suspects as nationals of six West and Central African countries, including Cameroon (10), Togo (6), Côte d’Ivoire (3), the Republic of Benin (3), Burkina Faso (1) and Guinea-Bissau (1).

The Army spokesman said preliminary investigations were launched to determine the suspects’ immigration status, the purpose of their stay in Nigeria and any possible involvement in criminal activities. He added that efforts were also ongoing to identify and question the owner of the compound where they were found.

The statement further revealed that the suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command, on July 16, 2026, for further investigation, profiling and appropriate administrative action in line with existing immigration laws.

Commending the troops for their professionalism and vigilance, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, urged personnel to sustain the ongoing operations and intensify efforts to deny criminal elements and illegal immigrants safe haven within the division’s area of responsibility.

He also reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to working with relevant security agencies to maintain peace, security and public safety across Lagos and other areas under the division’s jurisdiction.