Abuja resident Isaac Ben Etim has accused officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos State, of harassing and extorting his sister, Blessing, who was returning to Mali.
Etim told Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) that the incident occurred on Thursday as Blessing headed back to Mali after visiting family in Nigeria during the festive season.
She had arrived in the country on December 15, 2025, to spend time with relatives in Akwa Ibom State.After several failed attempts to reach her by phone, Blessing eventually called Etim to explain that NIS officers had arrested and handcuffed her at the Seme Command.
According to Etim, Blessing presented her regular travel documents, an ID card from the Nigerian Embassy in Burkina Faso (renewed three months earlier, with Etim paying for it) and her National Identification Number (NIN).
Despite showing these originals, the officers allegedly changed their line of questioning.
A female officer reportedly accused Blessing of traveling to Mali for prostitution, using the derogatory term “ashewo.”
The officer seized and searched her phone but found no incriminating content.When no evidence of wrongdoing was discovered, the officers allegedly demanded N2 million for her release.
Blessing was reportedly in tears and begging for freedom.Etim said he told the officers he could only afford N100,000. After sending that amount, the female officer rejected it as insufficient.
The officers eventually accepted N200,000 before releasing Blessing.The allegations, reported by FIJ, raise fresh concerns about extortion and mistreatment at Nigerian border posts.
No official comment from the Nigeria Immigration Service was included in the account.
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