The Nigeria Immigration authorities have commenced investigation into an incident involving the destruction of a Nigerian passport at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
This was disclosed in a statement by the spokesman of the Service, Kenneth Udo.
Mr Udo said, “The Nigeria Immigration Service has launched a formal investigation following the circulation of a video on social media, showing a female traveler destroying a Nigerian Standard Passport at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos”.
The incident, which has been widely criticized as the destruction of government property, has sparked public outrage and demands for legal action.
In a video footage sighted by this medium, the enraged woman responded dismissively when questioned about her actions, saying, “Is it your passport?”
She then left her stunned husband behind, holding their children’s hands and telling him, “If you want to sleep there, sleep there. This is Nigeria; this is where you will be.
Meanwhile, the NIS noted that her actions could be a violation of Section 10(b) of the Immigration Act 2015 (as amended), which prohibits the willful destruction of Nigerian travel documents.
The act outlines specific penalties for such offenses.
The statement further stressed the service’s dedication to enforcing the Immigration Act strictly, to safeguard national security and preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s legal and diplomatic instruments.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service remains unwavering in its commitment to upholding the provisions of the Immigration Act in the interest of national security, and to preserving the dignity and integrity of the nation’s legal instruments,” it added.
