Malaysia detains 53 Nigerians for immigration violations

Malaysian immigration authorities arrested 53 Nigerians as part of a larger operation that detained 112 undocumented African nationals between January and October 31. The Director-General of Malaysia’s Immigration Department, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, reported that Nigerians represented the highest number of arrests among African nationals, followed by Ugandans (13), Kenyans (10), and Ghanaians (8).

The primary offence was entering or remaining in Malaysia without a valid pass or permit, leading to 85 arrests, including 47 Nigerians. Additionally, 23 individuals were detained for overstaying their permitted period, and one Nigerian was arrested for allegedly possessing forged documents.

The operations reflect Malaysia's commitment to addressing undocumented migration and penalizing employers who hire undocumented workers. The report did not disclose the identities of the arrested Nigerians or the specific locations of their apprehension.

This incident follows a separate report of three Nigerians arrested in Delhi, India, for immigration violations.