Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested three Chinese nationals found residing opposite a massive illegal refinery in Ogere-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, with an expired visitor’s stamp.
The Chinese nationals were arrested on Wednesday during a joint enforcement operation by the EFCC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority at the illegal refinery site.
NMDPRA officials had sealed the facility after underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil, waste products from refining, and substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil, otherwise known as diesel were discovered.
The underground storage facility behind the site has an estimated capacity of more than 90,000 litres, with underground heating systems, water hydrants for cooling, locally fabricated tanks and silos for separation.
The foreigners were discovered living in a building directly opposite the illegal refinery which occupies over three hectares of land.
Their building was heavily secured and guarded by armed operatives, restricting access to the premises.
When asked for their visas and residence documents, the foreign nationals could only produce their Chinese passport with the Nigerian Immigration Service entry stamp.
The passports carried an entry stamp from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, dated May 9, 2026, with “30 days” permitted stay handwritten on it implying the visitor’s pass expired on June 8, 2026.
As of Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the foreigners had remained in the country for about five months after expiration, without a visible residence permit, work permit, or CERPAC.
They were subsequently arrested by EFCC operatives for further investigation.
An EFCC official who was part of the operation expressed concern over how the foreigners obtained immigration stamps without visas and continued to reside in the country months after their 30-day visitor’s pass expired.
He said, “No visa but you have immigration stamp. How is that possible? And they are living in our country and working. Look at it. No visa but you have immigration stamp.”
The development has raised fresh concerns that Ogun State, particularly the Ogere-Remo corridor, is becoming a safe haven for illegal migrants engaging in economic sabotage.
Recall that barely two weeks ago, the anti-graft agency arrested 14 Chinese and one Nigerian at four illegal lithium processing plants in the Ogere area of the state.
Upon their arrest, bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile devices, four computer laptops, two decoders, a television remote control, and a trailer truck were recovered from the suspects.
