Soldiers of 65 Battalion of the Nigerian Army have arrested 24 foreign nationals following a raid on a suspected hideout in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, as part of a broader push to clear the 81 Division’s area of responsibility of criminal elements, undocumented migrants and other security threats.
The Battalion said the operation was carried out after it received credible intelligence pointing to the presence of undocumented foreigners within its area of coverage.
Acting on that information, troops teamed up with members of a local vigilante group to storm a secluded, fenced compound in Imokun, in the Odo-Noforija/Poka axis of Epe. Fifteen men and nine women were taken into custody during the raid.
Preliminary screening indicated that those arrested hail from several West and Central African countries. According to the Army, the group includes 10 Cameroonians, 6 Togolese, 3 Ivorians, 3 nationals of the Republic, 1 Burkinabé and 1 national of Guinea-Bissau.
Investigators have begun questioning the suspects to determine their immigration status, their reason for being in the country and whether any of them were involved in unlawful activity. The Army said it was also working to track down and question the owner of the compound to shed more light on how the group came to be living there.
The 24 suspects were formally handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Lagos State Command on July 16, 2026, for further investigation, profiling and any administrative action required under Nigeria’s immigration laws.
The General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, praised the troops for their vigilance and professionalism in executing the operation.
“Sustain the ongoing operations and intensify efforts aimed at denying criminal elements, illegal immigrants and other security threats a foothold in the Division’s area of responsibility,” Babalola told personnel, according to a statement from the division.
He added that 81 Division remained committed to working with other security agencies to protect lives and property across the region.
The raid and arrests were confirmed in a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division Nigerian Army.
“As part of ongoing efforts to rid the 81 Division Area of Responsibility of criminal elements, illegal immigrants and other security threats, troops of 65 Battalion have arrested 24 foreign nationals during a coordinated raid on a suspected hideout in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State,” Yahaya said in the statement.
