NIS DEPORTS 99 FOREIGNERS OVER IRREGULAR MIGRATION

The Nigeria Immigration Service has repatriated 99 foreign nationals over 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 sent back in August.

Those repatriated in July included nationals of Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Pakistan, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The NIS identified irregular migration as the main reason for the repatriations.

The immigration service also reported rescuing 23 victims of trafficking and other forms of exploitation during the two-month period. Seven victims were rescued in July and 16 in August through interventions at locations including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Seme Border and Baji Patrol Post.

Some of the rescued victims were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further assistance and investigation.

The NIS also disclosed that it apprehended a stowaway at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in August and dismantled a transnational organised crime syndicate linked to the QNET/Ignite group, leading to the arrest of its alleged leaders and 11 facilitators in Lagos and Ogun states.

The service said the operations were part of efforts to strengthen border security, regulate migration and combat transnational organised crime.