By Hope James
The Nigeria Immigration Service has commenced probe into the destruction of a Nigerian passport by a woman at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Edum News reports.
The NIS Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Udo, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
A video had made rounds on the social media, where a woman was seen destroying her husband’s passport while in a fit of rage at the airport.
The lady, identified as Mrs. Igiebor, was captured tearing her husband’s Nigerian Standard Passport shortly after they arrived at the Lagos Airport on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
In the footage, an agitated Igiebor, when questioned about her actions, retorted, “Is it your passport?”
The NIS noted that it has launched a formal investigation into the incident , noting that the actions of the lady could be a violation of Section 10(b) of the Immigration Act 2015 (as amended), which prohibits the willful destruction of Nigerian travel documents, adding that the act outlines specific penalties for such offenses.
The NIS further reiterated the service’s dedication to enforcing the Immigration Act strictly, to safeguard national security and preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s legal and diplomatic instruments.
The statement reads in part, “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.
“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”.