ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA — A coordinated, intelligence-driven operation by the Nigerian military and joint security agencies has led to the arrest of 46 suspected illegal immigrants across several communities in Ogun State.
The multi-agency crackdown, which commenced on Thursday, June 11, 2026, targeted hidden locations within Ijebu Imushin, Ijebu Ilese, and neighboring areas. The joint taskforce comprised troops from the Nigerian Army, operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
Breakdown of the Apprehended Suspects
According to an official statement released on Sunday evening by Major Idereghi Samuel Akari, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 35 Artillery Brigade in Alamala, Abeokuta, the suspects consist of 36 males and 10 females.
All 46 individuals are nationals of neighboring West African countries within the ECOWAS sub-region, broken down as follows:
- Burkina Faso: 18 nationals
- Côte d’Ivoire: 23 nationals
- Togo: 4 nationals
- Senegal: 1 national
Preliminary profiling by security officials revealed that the foreign nationals had successfully evaded border checkpoints and had been living covertly in Ogun State for approximately six months without valid passports, visas, or residency permits.
The ‘QNet’ Direct Selling Coverup
During intense interrogation by military intelligence, the suspects claimed they were independent merchants and workers affiliated with QNet—a controversial global direct-selling and e-commerce platform.
Contextual Note: The direct-selling brand QNet has frequently issued public disclaimers across Sub-Saharan Africa warning that fraudulent local syndicates often exploit its corporate name. Illegal networks routinely use fake job advertisements or travel opportunities to lure West African youths across international borders, trapping them in unauthorized pyramid schemes or leaving them undocumented.
The arrested suspects have been transferred to the custody of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Ogun State Command, for definitive administrative screening and subsequent repatriation in compliance with national migration laws.
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Command Commends Inter-Agency Synergy
Reacting to the successful security sweep, the Commander of the 35 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Friday Oguche Onu, praised the troops and sister agencies for their vigilance and seamless operational synergy.
Brigadier General Onu emphasized that maintaining a secure border and tracking undocumented residents is vital to curbing potential internal security threats. He urged landlords, community leaders, and residents across Ogun State to remain highly security-conscious and immediately flag suspicious communal settlements or foreign groups to local authorities.
