The Nigerian Army has apprehended 24 foreign nationals during a security operation carried out in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The arrests were made on Thursday, July 16, 2026, following a coordinated raid on a suspected hideout in the area.
The Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Musa Yahaya, disclosed the development in a statement.
According to Yahaya, the operation was launched after security agencies received credible intelligence regarding the presence and activities of the foreign nationals within the area. He noted that the undocumented individuals had been observed loitering within the battalion’s area of responsibility.
The operation was executed by troops working alongside local vigilantes, who stormed a secluded fenced compound located at Imokun in the Odo-Noforija/Poka axis of Epe. During the raid, 24 foreigners comprising 15 men and nine women were taken into custody.
“Preliminary profiling revealed that the suspects are nationals of various West and Central African countries, including Cameroon (10), Togo (6), Côte d’Ivoire (3), Republic of Benin (3), Burkina Faso (1) and Guinea-Bissau (1),” Yahaya said.
He added that initial investigations have been conducted to determine the suspects’ immigration status, purpose of stay, and possible involvement in unlawful activities.
“Efforts are also underway to identify and question the owner of the premises to provide further insight into the circumstances surrounding their residence and activities at the location,” he stated.
