Tensions flared in the Igbogbele community, Badagry West Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, following a violent incident involving officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service. The unrest culminated in angry youths setting a key government facility ablaze.
Chaos Erupts After Stray Bullet Incident
The situation began on Friday, November 7, 2025, near a checkpoint manned by immigration personnel. A stray bullet, allegedly fired by an officer, struck a middle-aged woman identified as Hunsu Elizabeth. Eyewitness accounts and videos circulating on social media platforms, including CityMood Badagry and Badagry Talks Online TV, captured the immediate aftermath.
In one clip, a woman's voice is heard yelling, "You have shot the lady! Don't go! They have shot her in the arm. You're not supposed to shoot!" Another man shouts, "You can't go! You can see what you've caused. The gunshot has wounded her!" The footage shows residents helping the injured Elizabeth onto a motorcycle to rush her to a medical facility for urgent attention.
Community Fury Boils Over
News of the shooting spread rapidly through the community, acting as a catalyst for long-simmering frustrations. According to reports from PUNCH, enraged youths surrounded the officers' patrol van, attempting to prevent them from leaving the scene and demanding accountability.
The protest quickly escalated. The youths, venting their anger over what they described as recurring harassment, intimidation, and extortion by security personnel stationed along the Badagry–Owode–Seme corridor, stormed the immigration office and set it on fire. Videos from the scene showed flames and thick smoke engulfing the checkpoint as residents voiced their outrage.
Calls for Justice and Official Silence
In the wake of the violence, many Badagry residents took to social media to express their fury and call for decisive action. One resident lamented, "We can't keep living in fear. Every day, these uniformed men act like they are above the law. Who will protect us if those meant to protect us are the ones shooting us?" Another demanded the removal of the numerous checkpoints, stating they were not for public safety.
Despite the severity of the incident, the Nigeria Immigration Service has yet to issue an official statement. Efforts to reach the service's spokesperson, Akinsola Akinlabi, for clarification were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered. Security forces have since been deployed to the area to restore calm, while the victim, Hunsu Elizabeth, was reportedly receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
