Badagry checkpoint blaze after stray bullet
An angry crowd in the Igbogbele community of Badagry West Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, set an immigration checkpoint ablaze after a stray bullet allegedly fired by an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service struck a middle-aged woman identified as Ms Hunsu Elizabeth.
The incident reportedly occurred on Friday when the woman was inside her home and a bullet discharged by the immigration officer struck her arm. Local sources indicate that videos circulating online show the victim in visible pain on a hospital bed and community members transporting her on a motorcycle to receive urgent medical attention.
Following the shooting, youths of the community surrounded at least seven immigration officers at the scene, prevented their exit, and proceeded to torch the checkpoint structure in protest of what they described as reckless use of force by security personnel.
In response to the incident, the lawmaker representing the Badagry Federal Constituency, Sesi Whingan, condemned the shooting and called for urgent reforms of security agency conduct in the area. He emphasised that repeated cases of checkpoints and officers operating in crowded markets and residential zones pose serious risks to innocent lives.
Community residents expressed deep frustration at the situation, citing a pattern of checkpoint operations and security pursuits which they say often lead to fear and injury in densely populated spaces. The arson attack reflects mounting tensions between local communities and security agencies over accountability and safety.
