Ifo Communities Raise Security Concerns Over Alleged Influx Of Undocumented Foreign Nationals

Residents and stakeholders in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State have petitioned authorities over the alleged influx of undocumented foreign nationals into parts of the council area, calling for urgent verification of their immigration status and investigation into potential security concerns.

The petition, submitted under the aegis of the Aare Boluwatife Community Development Committee (CDC), was addressed to the Executive Chairman of Ifo Local Government and copied to relevant security agencies, elected representatives and traditional authorities.

According to the petition, residents of communities within the Lemode–Abule Oko–Robiyan axis of Ifo Constituency II have observed a growing presence of individuals said to be foreign nationals residing within the area.

The community leaders stated that some of the individuals reportedly identified themselves as citizens of Cameroon and other neighbouring African countries, claiming to be in Nigeria for academic activities and online-based jobs.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s commitment to lawful migration and regional cooperation, the petitioners said the pattern and scale of settlement had generated concerns among residents and warranted official scrutiny by the appropriate authorities.

The petition alleged that some of the individuals encountered during community engagements were unable to communicate effectively in English despite claims of being students in Nigerian institutions.

It further claimed that some were either unable or unwilling to provide verifiable immigration documents during informal inquiries, while others allegedly gave similar accounts regarding their routes of entry and reasons for residing in the area.

The community, however, noted that the observations were not the outcome of any formal investigation and should be subjected to professional verification by relevant government agencies.

A major concern raised in the petition relates to the possibility of undocumented persons gaining access to Nigeria’s identity management system, particularly the National Identification Number (NIN).

According to the petitioners, such a development could raise questions about the integrity of the country’s identity database, immigration compliance processes and access to public services.

The community also expressed fears that the presence of persons whose immigration status has not been officially verified could create challenges for resident identification, intelligence gathering and law enforcement monitoring within the area.

Consequently, the petitioners called for a coordinated verification and screening exercise involving the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant agencies.

They also urged security authorities to investigate any individual unable to provide valid travel or residency documents and probe possible networks facilitating irregular migration into the affected communities.

The petition further requested that any violations of the Immigration Act established through due process should be addressed in accordance with extant laws, while confirmed undocumented persons should be treated in line with applicable immigration regulations.

The community leaders also advocated stronger collaboration between security agencies and local stakeholders to enhance intelligence sharing and strengthen public confidence.

“We respectfully submit this petition in the spirit of civic responsibility, peace and lawful order,” the petition stated.

It added that while the community supports lawful migration and peaceful coexistence, proper documentation and identity verification remain essential components of national security.

Copies of the petition were forwarded to the Olu of Lemode Kingdom, Oba Solomon Adisa Shokunbi; members of the Ogun State House of Assembly and House of Representatives representing the area; the Director of the DSS in Ogun State; the Ogun State Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service; the Area Commander of Police, Sango-Ota Area Command; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); and other relevant authorities.