Tension gripped the Igbogbele community in Badagry West Local Council Development Area of Lagos State after a stray bullet allegedly fired by an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) struck a middle-aged woman identified as Hunsu Elizabeth.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, triggered outrage among residents, leading angry youths to set an immigration checkpoint ablaze.
Reports from CityMood Badagry, a local media platform, revealed that residents accused immigration officers of recklessness and misuse of firearms.
Videos obtained by DAILY GAZETTE on Monday showed flames consuming the checkpoint while agitated residents shouted at armed officers, accusing them of shooting the woman.
In one of the clips, a woman’s voice could be heard screaming:
“You have shot the lady! Don’t go! They’ve shot her in the arm. You’re not supposed to shoot!”
Another male resident was heard confronting the officers:
“You can’t go. Look at what you’ve done. The gunshot has wounded her!”
As the officers attempted to drive away in their patrol vehicle, the crowd swelled, blocking their path and demanding that they remain at the scene.
Further footage captured Elizabeth being assisted onto a motorcycle to seek medical care, while another video showed her in visible pain on a hospital bed.
The member representing Badagry Federal Constituency, Sesi Whingan, condemned the incident and appealed for calm among residents.
In a statement on his official Facebook page, Whingan said:
“I received with deep concern the distressing incident that occurred today (Friday) at Igbogbele, where an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service reportedly fired a shot that struck Hunsu Elizabeth while she was inside her home.
We are thankful that her life was spared, and I pray for her full and quick recovery. My sympathy goes to her family and everyone affected by the emotional trauma this incident has caused.”
He described the situation as “deeply troubling,” noting that it was not the first time residents of Badagry had faced danger and harassment from security personnel along the Badagry–Owode–Seme corridor.
“The high concentration of checkpoints, coupled with repeated cases of officers chasing civilians into busy communities and marketplaces, continues to endanger innocent lives. This is unacceptable and must stop,” he stated.
Whingan also criticized the use of excessive force by security agents, warning that such conduct undermines public trust and endangers citizens.
He pledged to engage the leadership of both the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Customs Service to push for reforms that prioritize accountability, professionalism, and public safety.
“We’ll continue to follow up to ensure that these agencies operate with discipline and respect for human life,” he added.
“I also appeal to our people to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands. Badagry has always been a peaceful and united community. We must not let the actions of a few individuals define who we are.”
As at the time of filing this report, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Immigration Service, Akinsola Akinlabi, had not responded to calls or messages seeking official comment on the incident.
Residents, however, continue to demand justice for the shooting, the latest in a series of violent encounters between civilians and security operatives in Nigeria’s border communities.
