The police have arrested 84 illegal immigrants from Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Togo and Cote D’Ivoire at the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos.
Police chief Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the suspects at the Area ‘F’ Command Headquarters yesterday, said they were arrested while trying to use Seme waterways to get to Gabon.
Owoseni said they were intercepted on the waterways while waiting to board arranged commercial buses that would convey them to Gabon.
He said they were arrested between January 9 and 11, adding that they claimed to be heading to Gabon to find work. They would be handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officials for further investigation, he added.
Owoseni said the suspects were illegal immigrants, who had nothing to do with Boko Haram.
Some of the suspects told The Nation that they were mostly artisans and casual workers. Among them are carpenters, teachers, motor mechanics, salesmen, office secretaries, hotel workers and night guards. They said they were ready to do any job.
Guene Mumuni, 28, said they arrived at Seme from Burkina Faso last December 14. He said they were arrested on a boat while waiting for an agent to take them to Gabon.
He claimed to be a professional carpenter but said he was ready to do any other work as he needed to hustle for money before returning home.
His compatriot, Compaoere Musa, 19, said he is a student looking for work to raise enough money to continue his education.
Another Burkinabe immigrant, Jelili Mumuni, who claimed to be a painter, said he never knew that those he was lumped with for the journey to Gabon, were illegal immigrants. He said he embarked on the journey following an invitation from his brother who is living in Gabon.
He said his brother told him that on arrival at the Benin Republic waterfront, there would be a boat to take him to Gabon.
“But I was shocked when policemen swooped on us here in Nigeria,” Mumuni added.