Tension flared in the Igbogbele community of Badagry West Local Council Development Area when a stray bullet fired by a Nigeria Immigration Service officer struck a woman in her home, triggering violent protests that saw residents burn down an immigration checkpoint.
How the Badagry Shooting Incident Unfolded
The crisis began on Friday, November 7, 2025, when immigration officers arrived in two Toyota Hilux vans and positioned themselves near a local bridge. Their presence immediately drew suspicion from residents, with one community member approaching to question their mission.
According to eyewitness accounts, the resident insisted that the local council chairman should be informed before any operation could proceed. This exchange turned confrontational when one officer reportedly recognized the man as an 'honourable' with whom they had a previous disagreement.
The situation escalated rapidly when the team leader ordered the man's arrest. Fearing for his safety, the resident fled, prompting officers to give chase. During the pursuit, one officer was seen brandishing a cane before a single gunshot rang out.
Innocent Woman Becomes Victim of Reckless Shooting
The bullet missed its intended target and penetrated the wall of a nearby house, striking Hunsu Elizabeth, a middle-aged woman who was simply resting in her room. Community sources confirmed that the woman sustained a severe arm injury from the gunshot.
"The woman was just resting in her room when the bullet hit her," a community source told reporters, highlighting the random nature of the violence that had invaded the woman's private space.
Emergency response saw the victim first taken to a nearby medical facility for initial treatment before being transferred to Badagry General Hospital. Medical examinations revealed the bullet had shattered the bone in her arm, indicating the powerful impact of the shot.
Community Outbreak and Political Response
Videos circulating on Facebook captured the chaotic aftermath as residents rushed to assist the injured woman while others confronted the immigration officers, attempting to prevent them from leaving the scene. Angry voices could be heard demanding accountability, with one woman shouting, "You have shot the lady! Don't go! They have shot her in the arm. You're not supposed to shoot!"
The community's frustration boiled over as local youths set the immigration checkpoint ablaze. Video evidence showed thick flames completely engulfing the facility, symbolizing the depth of public anger toward security forces.
Sesi Whingan, the member representing Badagry Federal Constituency, condemned the shooting in a statement posted on his official Facebook page. He described the incident as "deeply troubling" and noted this wasn't the first time Badagry residents had faced such danger from security personnel along the Badagry–Owode–Seme corridor.
Whingan criticized the "high concentration of checkpoints" and "recurrent cases of officers chasing civilians into busy communities and marketplaces" that continue to endanger innocent lives. He promised his office would engage the leadership of both the Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Customs Service to demand accountability and reforms prioritizing public safety.
While calling for calm among residents, the lawmaker emphasized that such "reckless conduct or excessive force by security agencies undermine public trust and endanger the very citizens they are meant to safeguard." He urged community members not to take the law into their own hands while assuring them of his commitment to ensuring security agencies operate with "discipline, professionalism, and respect for human lives."
