Police rescue 38 foreign nationals amid suspected mob attack in Lagos

Lagos State Police Command has rescued 38 foreign nationals from a suspected mob attack in the Epe area of Lagos and has launched an investigation into alleged illegal immigration activities.

Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani made the announcement on Tuesday while speaking to journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

According to Tijani, the rescue operation took place on June 17 after security operatives intervened to prevent a potential breakdown of law and order involving foreign nationals.

The group consisted of citizens from Chad, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Mali, Togo, Cameroon and Ghana.

"The foreign nationals were unable to provide satisfactory explanations for their presence and activities in Nigeria," he said.

He explained that the individuals are currently undergoing profiling at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) before being transferred to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further processing.

"We want to properly profile them and determine whether there are criminal elements connected to their activities before handing them over to immigration authorities," the commissioner said.

Preliminary findings indicate that 20 of the foreign nationals allegedly entered Nigeria illegally, while 18 others possessed valid ECOWAS travel documents.

Tijani said the police intervention was necessary to prevent mob action and to ensure the safety of those involved.

He added that the matter had been escalated to relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service and the embassies of the affected countries, for proper documentation and necessary action.

The commissioner noted that investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding their presence in the community and whether any immigration-related offences have been committed.

He assured residents that the command remains committed to maintaining peace and public order across the state.

Tijani further stated that due process will be followed in handling the matter, promising that the public will be updated as investigations progress.