Immigration orders re-arrest of 5 Chinese nationals

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has reportedly ordered the re-arrest of five Chinese nationals who were earlier freed after being detained for violating immigration laws, SaharaReporters has revealed.

The men were initially arrested on August 12, 2025, during a joint sting operation conducted by the NIS in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS). They were subsequently held at the NIS detention facility in Sauka, along Airport Road, Abuja.

However, on August 21, the suspects were unexpectedly released, allegedly following the intervention of a retired senior immigration officer. Their release sparked internal concerns, prompting the directive for their immediate re-arrest.

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The five Chinese nationals initially facing deportation under Section 44 of the Immigration Act include: Zhang Damou (46) – Sales Manager, charged with quota trafficking (Section 38); Qian Jin (48) – Sales Manager on TWP, charged with visa misuse (Section 56); Tang Pan (41) – Interpreter on TWP, charged with visa misuse (Section 56); Lin Jianfeng (52) – Business Manager on TWP, charged with visa misuse (Section 56) and Guo Zhengheng (40) – Sales Manager on Business Visa, charged with visa misuse (Section 56).

“It was a retired DIG that used his influence to quietly secure the release of the five Chinese nationals arrested during the enforcement exercise,” a source had told SaharaReporters.

“The development has sparked outrage among observers who warn that insider protection is emboldening expatriate companies to flout Nigerian laws with impunity.”

SaharaReporters learnt on Monday that NIS authorities have ordered the re-arrest of the foreigners.

“The story of their secret release by SaharaReporters prompted a swift directive for the re-arrest exercise,” an official said.

“The authorities have ordered the immediate re-arrest of the five illegal immigrants, effective from the close of work on Friday, August 22, 2025, through an internal memo.

“The memo claimed the directive was aimed at calming growing public discontent, while allowing for a thorough investigation and full documentation of the individuals’ immigration status and employment activities in the country.”

The source continued, “The arrest of the Chinese nation was based on infractions on section 36,38 and 56 of Immigration Act 2015 and the breach of section 105 of the same Act, 2015.

“However, their sudden release, secured through political interference, triggered a wave of criticism and raised serious concerns about the integrity of immigration enforcement.

“The incident also exposed deep-seated ethical lapses within the immigration system, despite ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration aimed at combating systemic corruption and restoring institutional credibility across federal agencies.”

The source further said there was growing frustration among junior officers, who claimed they were routinely sidelined as high-level connections override legal protocols.

“We are expected to enforce the law, but our efforts are constantly undermined from above,” the source said.

“The leadership of the NIS, under Comptroller General Kemi Nanna Nandap, has now come under intense pressure to act decisively. Stakeholders are questioning whether the agency can restore public trust and demonstrate the competence needed to address both internal misconduct and broader illegal immigration issues.

“The re-arrest directive and subsequent investigations are being closely watched by Nigerians. As the probe deepens, the spotlight remains firmly on both active and retired officials whose influence may have compromised due process. Whether meaningful accountability will follow now depends on the political will to enforce the law; regardless of rank or connection.”

The Chinese workers had earlier insisted that they possessed Permanent Residence Permits, while one of them had reportedly only just arrived in Nigeria a week before his arrest.

The workers also pointed to the fact that the NIS had announced an amnesty window on July 28, 2025, allowing overstayers and undocumented workers to regularise their immigration status.

However, they claimed that despite this policy, the detained Chinese workers continue to face threats of deportation and the forced closure of their factory, even before any investigation or legal proceedings have been concluded.

When contacted, the Immigration spokesman Akinsola Akinlabi had said: “All those allegations, I can tell you, are false. If you see us arresting any foreigners, you should know they have done something wrong.

“It is in our mission to ensure more foreign investment in the country.”

Also, a senior NIS official, who said he was familiar with the matter, insisted that security operatives lawfully arrested the five Chinese nationals for working in Nigeria without valid immigration documents.

“The truth about the issue is that these people are criminals, and that was why Immigration officials arrested them. There is nothing like targeting or that someone is behind it,” the top Immigration source had said.

“These people are in Nigeria without any valid documents. They are carrying out businesses without any permits.”

The source continued: “On the amnesty, many people do not understand how it works. The amnesty is for foreigners already in Nigeria but could not revalidate their papers because of one issue or another.

“It is not for illegal immigrants like these suspects. And NIS asked those who want amnesty to apply through our website, but do you know that none of them applied?

“What this signifies is that they don’t care, and they thought they could work in Nigeria without any valid documentation. When there is no documentation, they can carry out illegal acts and crimes without any traces.”

(SaharaReporters)