By Hunvio Elizabeth A fresh allegation of abuse and corruption has surfaced at the Seme border in Badagry Lagos State as officers of the Ni...
By Hunvio Elizabeth
The allegation was made by Isaac Ben Etim an Abuja based resident who said his sister Blessing was harassed extorted and unlawfully detained by immigration officers while travelling back to Mali after spending the festive season in Nigeria.
Speaking with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism FIJ Etim explained that his sister arrived in Nigeria on December 15 2025 to celebrate Christmas and New Year with family members in Akwa Ibom State. He said the trouble began on Thursday when she was returning to Mali through the Seme border.
According to Etim he became worried after several phone calls to his sister went unanswered. When she eventually called back she explained that officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service had arrested and handcuffed her at the Seme Command.
Etim said his sister told him that shortly after her arrest the officers demanded her passport and travel documents which she immediately presented. He explained that she regularly travels between Nigeria and Mali using an Ambassade du Nigeria et Burkina Faso ID card alongside her National Identification Number.
He added that the ID card had been renewed about three months earlier and that he personally paid for the renewal. Despite presenting all her valid documents on the spot Etim said the officers allegedly shifted their focus after finding no fault with her papers.
The situation reportedly took a disturbing turn when a female immigration officer accused Blessing of travelling to Mali for prostitution. Etim said his sister was humiliated by the accusation which was made without any evidence.
He alleged that the officer seized her phone and searched through it extensively but found nothing incriminating. When no wrongdoing was discovered Etim claimed the officers escalated the situation by demanding money for her release.
According to him the female officer demanded two million naira as a condition for setting his sister free. He said Blessing was crying and begging while still in handcuffs but the officers refused to release her.
Etim said he intervened by phone and told the officers that the most he could raise was one hundred thousand naira. Even after sending the money he said the officers rejected it insisting it was not enough.
He alleged that after prolonged pressure and negotiation the officers eventually collected two hundred thousand naira before releasing his sister and allowing her to continue her journey.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns about alleged extortion harassment and abuse of power by security operatives at Nigeria’s border posts especially at Seme which is one of the country’s busiest land borders.
As of the time of this report the Nigeria Immigration Service has not issued an official response to the allegations. However the claims have added to growing public calls for accountability transparency and urgent reforms within border security operations.
Photo Credit: The guardian Newspaper
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