Malaysia Arrests 53 Nigerians Among 112 Undocumented Africans For Immigration Offences
Malaysia Arrests 53 Nigerians Among 112 Undocumented Africans For Immigration Offences
Nigerians accounted for the highest number of arrests, followed by Ugandans (13), Kenyans (10) and Ghanaians (eight).Nigerian news analysis
Malaysian immigration authorities arrested at least 53 Nigerians among 112 undocumented African nationals during enforcement operations between January and 31 October, according to Malaysian newspaper Utusan Malaysia.
Nigerians accounted for the highest number of arrests, followed by Ugandans (13), Kenyans (10) and Ghanaians (eight).Nigerian news analysis
The Director-General of Malaysia’s Immigration Department, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, disclosed the figures in an interview with the newspaper shared on Friday. He said the arrests were carried out across the country.
The rest of those arrested were from Somalia (6), Tanzania (6), Senegal (4), Algeria (3), Burkina Faso (2), Togo (2) and The Gambia (2), with one person each from Guinea, Zimbabwe and Libya.
Shaaban said the most common offence was entering or remaining in Malaysia without a valid pass or permit, under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. A total of 85 people, including 47 Nigerians, were arrested for the offence.Nigerian news analysis
Another 23 people were detained for overstaying under Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act, while three were arrested for violating the conditions of their immigration passes under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
One Nigerian was also arrested for allegedly possessing forged documents under Section 56(1)(l) of the Immigration Act.Nigerian news analysis
Authorities also arrested an Algerian employer under Section 55B of the Act for allegedly employing foreign workers without valid passes.
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Shaaban said the operations reflected the authorities’ commitment to curbing undocumented migration and taking firm action against employers who harbour or employ undocumented migrants.
The report did not name the Nigerians arrested or say where they were apprehended.
The arrests come days after three Nigerians were arrested in Delhi, India, for allegedly staying in the country without valid immigration documents.
The men were picked up during an immigration verification exercise in southwest Delhi on 31 October and transferred to a detention centre.
