The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has begun an investigation into a troubling incident where a woman destroyed a Nigerian passport at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The incident, which was caught on video and quickly spread across social media, has raised concerns among the public and the authorities.
According to a statement released on Sunday by the NIS Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Udo, the service is taking the matter seriously.
“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,” Udo said.
The video shows a woman, identified as Mrs. Igiebor, angrily tearing up her husband’s Nigerian passport shortly after they landed at the airport on Saturday, August 10, 2024. When questioned about her actions, an agitated Igiebor replied, “Is it your passport?”
The NIS has expressed concern over this incident, noting that it may be a breach of Section 10(b) of the Immigration Act of 2015 (as amended), which makes it illegal to willfully destroy Nigerian travel documents. The law specifies penalties for such violations.
“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,” the statement concluded.
