Nigerian Immigration Service Investigates Passport Destruction Incident

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched a formal investigation into an incident involving the destruction of a Nigerian Standard Passport at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. This was confirmed in a press statement issued late of Sunday by Kenneth Udo, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

According to the statement, the incident occurred when a female traveler, identified as Mrs. Favour Igiebor, holding passport number A11990869, was caught on camera tearing her husband’s passport shortly after they arrived at the Lagos Airport on Saturday, August 10, 2024. The video of the incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking concern among the public.

In the video, Mrs. Igiebor can be seen proudly declaring “na me tear am” (I’m the one who tore it), before taking their two children with her and abandoning her husband, who seemed shocked and left speechless by the sudden turn of events. NIS officials were seen consoling the husband, urging him to remain calm and composed, and surprisingly advised him to respond with silence, implying that as a man, he should quietly endure the humiliation without speaking out.

The NIS statement noted that Mrs. Igiebor’s 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. If the allegations are substantiated, her actions would constitute a breach of Section 10(b) of the Immigration Act 2015 (as amended), with corresponding penalties outlined under Section 10(h) of the same Act.

In response to the incident, the Comptroller General of Immigration, K.N. Udo, reiterated the service’s unwavering 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.

The Nigeria Immigration Service remains steadfast 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.

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting national travel documents and the potential consequences of willfully damaging or destroying them. As the investigation unfolds, the NIS will undoubtedly take appropriate action to ensure that the integrity of the nation’s legal instruments is upheld.