Friday, September 4, 2026 - The Nigeria Immigration Service repatriated 99 foreigners for irregular migration between July and August 2026, according to its latest operational report.
The report prepared for the Office of the National Security
Adviser showed that 90 foreigners were repatriated in July, while nine others
were repatriated in August.
The July figure comprised 33 Cameroonians, 38 nationals of
Côte d’Ivoire, 15 Pakistanis, four Nigeriens, four Chadians, two Burkinabè, two
Central Africans and one national of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The report identified irregular migration as the primary
reason for the repatriations.
It said, “90 foreigners were recorded as repatriated in
July, while nine were recorded in August. The cases primarily involved
irregular migration, with the July records including nationals of Cameroon
(33), Niger (four), Pakistan (15), Côte d’Ivoire (38), Burkina Faso (two), Chad
(four), Central African Republic (two) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(one).”
The NIS also reported rescuing 23 victims of trafficking and
other forms of exploitation during the period.
Seven victims were rescued in July, while 16 were rescued in
August following interventions at locations including the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Seme Border, Baji Patrol Post and other locations.
Some of the rescued victims were handed over to the National
Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further care and
investigation.
The immigration authorities also apprehended a stowaway at
the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in August.
“Seven victims were recorded as rescued in July and 16 in
August. The records include interventions at MMIA, Seme Border, Baji Patrol
Post, NAIA and other locations, with some victims handed over to the National
Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
“One stowaway was recorded as apprehended at the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport in August 2026.
“Twenty-three victims were recorded as rescued across July
and August. July interventions accounted for seven victims, including cases
involving Thailand, Mali, Egypt and domestic locations. August interventions
accounted for 16 victims, including cases intercepted at Seme Border, MMIA,
NAIA and Baji Patrol Post,” it said.
In addition, four persons of interest were identified during
the period, comprising three in July and one in August.
“The August case involved a potential trafficking victim who
was referred to NAPTIP,” it added.
The NIS further disclosed that it had dismantled a
fraudulent transnational organised crime syndicate linked to the QNET/Ignite
group.
The operation, according to the report, led to the
apprehension of the syndicate leaders and 11 facilitators in Lagos and Ogun
states.
The service said the interventions formed part of its
efforts to strengthen border security, regulate migration and combat
transnational organised crime.
The report also highlighted the detection of document fraud,
enforcement operations, arrests and prosecutions as part of measures taken by
the service to safeguard Nigeria’s borders and prevent the exploitation of
migrants.
The NIS said its operations during the period were aimed at
ensuring effective migration management while contributing to national
security.
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