Rage in Badagry: Mob Burns Immigration Checkpoint After Woman Hit by Stray Bullet
Panic gripped parts of the Badagry area of Lagos State after an immigration checkpoint went up in flames following reports that a stray bullet fired by an officer struck a woman. According to eyewitnesses who spoke to The Punch, the incident occurred when officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) allegedly attempted to disperse a crowd during a routine operation along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. One of the bullets reportedly hit a woman, sparking outrage among residents. “People just lost control,” said a trader who witnessed the chaos. “They couldn’t bear it anymore. They set fire to the checkpoint while shouting that enough is enough.” Videos circulating on social media show thick plumes of smoke rising as residents vandalised the checkpoint structure. Law enforcement officers were seen retreating from the scene as the crowd grew violent. The NIS has since confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation is underway to determine what led to the accidental discharge and the subsequent arson. Security experts have warned that such incidents expose the fragile relationship between state agents and the public. “A single act of carelessness can undo years of trust-building,” said a retired police superintendent. For the people of Badagry, however, the scar may linger. As dusk settled over the blackened ruins of the checkpoint, one resident muttered, “They took her life for nothing, and this is our only way to show them we’re human too.” Rage in Badagry: Mob Burns Immigration Checkpoint After Woman Hit by Stray Bullet By Joel Owah Panic gripped parts of the Badagry area of Lagos State after an immigration checkpoint went up in flames following reports that a stray bullet fired by an officer struck a woman. According to eyewitnesses who spoke to The Punch, the incident occurred when officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) allegedly attempted to disperse a crowd during a routine operation along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. One of the bullets reportedly hit a woman, sparking outrage among residents. “People just lost control,” said a trader who witnessed the chaos. “They couldn’t bear it anymore. They set fire to the checkpoint while shouting that enough is enough.” Videos circulating on social media show thick plumes of smoke rising as residents vandalised the checkpoint structure. Law enforcement officers were seen retreating from the scene as the crowd grew violent. The NIS has since confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation is underway to determine what led to the accidental discharge and the subsequent arson. Security experts have warned that such incidents expose the fragile relationship between state agents and the public. “A single act of carelessness can undo years of trust-building,” said a retired police superintendent. For the people of Badagry, however, the scar may linger. As dusk settled over the blackened ruins of the checkpoint, one resident muttered, “They took her life for nothing, and this is our only way to show them we’re human too.” Rage in Badagry: Mob Burns Immigration Checkpoint After Woman Hit by Stray Bullet Panic gripped parts of the Badagry area of Lagos State after an immigration checkpoint went up in flames following reports that a stray bullet fired by an officer struck a woman. According to eyewitnesses who spoke to The Punch, the incident occurred when officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) allegedly attempted to disperse a crowd during a routine operation along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. One of the bullets reportedly hit a woman, sparking outrage among residents. “People just lost control,” said a trader who witnessed the chaos. “They couldn’t bear it anymore. They set fire to the checkpoint while shouting that enough is enough.” Videos circulating on social media show thick plumes of smoke rising as residents vandalized the checkpoint structure. Law enforcement officers were seen retreating from the scene as the crowd grew violent. The NIS has since confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation is underway to determine what led to the accidental discharge and the subsequent arson. Security experts have warned that such incidents expose the fragile relationship between state agents and the public. “A single act of carelessness can undo years of trust-building,” said a retired police superintendent. For the people of Badagry, however, the scar may linger. As dusk settled over the blackened ruins of the checkpoint, one resident muttered, “They took her life for nothing, and this is our only way to show them we’re human too.”
| 2025-11-11 08:34:48