Tension gripped the Igbogbele community in Badagry West Local Council, Lagos State, after a stray bullet allegedly fired by a Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) officer struck a middle-aged woman, Hunsu Elizabeth.

The incident reportedly occurred on Friday, sparking outrage among residents who accused the officers of reckless conduct. In protest, irate youths set ablaze an immigration checkpoint in the area.

Videos shared on social media showed thick smoke and flames rising from the torched post, with angry youths confronting at least seven immigration personnel, preventing them from leaving. In one clip, a woman yelled, “You have shot the lady! Don’t go! They have shot her in the arm,” while a man added, “You can’t go! You can see what you’ve caused. The gunshot has wounded her!”

Elizabeth was reportedly hit in the arm and rushed onto a motorcycle for medical treatment. Footage later showed her grimacing in pain on a hospital bed.

Reacting to the incident, Hon. Sesi Whingan, lawmaker representing Badagry Federal Constituency, condemned the shooting and urged residents to remain calm. On his official Facebook page, he stated:

“I received with deep concern the distressing incident that occurred today at Igbogbele, where an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service reportedly fired a shot that struck Hunsu Elizabeth while she was inside her home. We are grateful that her life was spared, and I pray for her swift and complete recovery.”

Whingan described the situation as “deeply troubling,” highlighting previous instances where residents along the Badagry-Owode-Seme corridor had faced harassment from security operatives. He criticized the “high concentration of checkpoints” and “recurring incidents of officers pursuing civilians into communities and markets,” stressing that such recklessness endangered innocent lives.

The lawmaker also vowed to engage the leadership of the Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Customs Service to ensure accountability and reforms prioritizing public safety. He appealed to residents to remain calm and law-abiding, warning against taking the law into their own hands.

As of the time of filing, NIS spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi had not responded to calls or messages seeking comment on the incident.