Igbogbele community of Badagry West Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, was gripped with tension after a stray bullet allegedly fired by an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service struck a middle-aged woman, identified as Hunsu Elizabeth.
According to reports, the incident sparked outrage among residents, who accused the officers of recklessness. In anger, some irate youths set fire to the immigration checkpoint in the area.
A local media platform, CityMood Badagry, which reported the incident, said the shooting led to chaos as residents demanded justice for the victim. Videos circulating on social media showed flames engulfing the checkpoint while residents shouted at armed immigration officers attempting to flee the scene.
In one of the clips, a woman could be heard yelling, “You have shot the lady! Don’t go! They have shot her in the arm!” Another resident added, “You can’t go. You can see what you’ve caused.”
The victim, who sustained an injury to her arm, was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Footage shared by Badagry Talks Online TV captured her grimacing in pain while receiving medical attention.
Reacting to the incident, the member representing Badagry Federal Constituency, Hon. Sesi Whingan, condemned the shooting and called for calm among residents.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Whingan said, “I received with deep concern the distressing incident that occurred today 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 grateful that her life was spared, and I pray for her swift recovery.”
Describing the situation as “deeply troubling,” the lawmaker said it was not the first time residents of Badagry had faced harassment and danger from security operatives along the Badagry–Owode–Seme corridor.
He lamented that the high number of checkpoints in the area and the reckless behavior of some officers continued to endanger innocent lives. “This situation is unacceptable and must not continue,” he said.
Whingan further urged the leadership of the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Customs Service to ensure accountability and implement reforms that promote discipline and respect for human lives.
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“I also appeal to our people to remain calm and law-abiding. Let us not take the law into our own hands or escalate the situation. Badagry has always been a peaceful, resilient, and united community,” he added.
As of the time of filing this report, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Immigration Service, Akinsola Akinlabi, had yet to respond to calls or messages seeking comment.
The incident adds to a growing list of security-related tragedies in Nigeria’s border communities. In a similar case reported in September, customs officers allegedly ran over and killed a primary school pupil in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State while pursuing suspected smugglers, leading to widespread protests.
