Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has recanted on his earlier claim that an immigration officer was shot on the order of a Chinese national at a Chinese firm in Niger State.
The minister in a statement signed by his spokesman, Alao Babatunde, said further investigations revealed that the gunshot was not ordered by a Chinese national.

The statement read: “Following the report of the alleged shooting of an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Niger State, further investigations have revealed that the officer was hit by a stray bullet that was neither shot on the order of the Chinese company nor its employee.

“A full-fledged investigation has been launched into the shooting of the personnel in collaboration with other security agencies. This is to unravel the detailed circumstances surrounding the shooting while giving assurance that anyone found culpable will be brought to book.

“The minister reaffirms his strong commitment to ensuring the safety, dignity, and professional integrity of all law enforcement officers. He emphasises the government’s ongoing support for law-abiding businesses in Nigeria and reiterates the Ministry of Interior’s dedication to fostering strong partnerships with foreign nationals, aiming to build sustainable collaboration for social economic development.”

The minister had earlier been reported to have at a stakeholders sensitisation workshop on the implementation of the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025, declared that the Nigerian government will take up the matter of the shooting as a diplomatic issue.
He said the development alone is an attack on Nigeria. “It will never happen. It will never be tolerated.”
He had told the gathering that the Immigration officer, who was on official duty, had visited the Chinese company to check the list of the company’s expatriates, but the owner of the company ordered a security officer in the premises to shoot the government official.

Tunji-Ojo said: “I won’t go to China as a Nigerian, open a company and tell my security to shoot a government official in uniform. It’s never done anywhere in the world.
“These officers put their lives on the line. These officers serve this country with their all. And you will not come from anywhere and ask them to shoot them in their fatherland.

“It will no longer happen. We will take it up with you. Because that company, we (Nigerian government) have the power to withdraw their business permit from Nigeria and declare them illegal.”

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