JUST IN: Five Chinese nationals reportedly ‘freed’ after arrest
Five Chinese nationals arrested for allegedly working in Nigeria without valid immigration documents have been released, according to SaharaReporters.
The men were initially apprehended on August 12, 2025, during a joint operation by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Department of State Services (DSS) at a facility along Airport Road, Sauka, Abuja.
The five men, identified as Zhang Damou (46), Qian Jin (48), Tang Pan (41), Lin Jianfeng (52), and Guo Zhengheng (40), were held in detention and faced deportation under the Immigration Act.
They were accused of “quota trafficking” and misuse of Temporary Work Permits (TWP) and Business Visas, with each charged according to the specifics of their roles at Nigeria Royal Castle Ceramic Company Limited in Sagamu, Ogun State.
According to sources, their release came following lobbying by a retired senior immigration officer.
“It was a retired DIG that used his influence to quietly secure the release of the five Chinese nationals arrested during the enforcement exercise,” a source told SaharaReporters.
Investigations by NIS reportedly revealed that Royal Castle Ceramics, established in 2022, had been operating outside Nigeria’s regulatory framework, failing to obtain the necessary business permits or establishment quotas.
The company allegedly recruited expatriates under inappropriate visa categories and did not comply with statutory reporting or tax obligations.
Sources detailed the specific offenses: Zhang Damou worked illegally without quota approval; Qian Jin and Tang Pan exceeded the scope of their Temporary Work Permits; and Lin Jianfeng and Guo Zhengheng violated conditions of their Business Visas.
Additionally, the company was accused of labor abuses, including unsafe working conditions, inadequate protective equipment, long working hours, and wages below the national minimum.
Observers expressed concern that the involvement of a retired senior immigration officer could encourage further violations of Nigerian laws.
“Such interference emboldens illegal operators and demoralizes officers who enforce the law,” a source said.
The detained expatriates, however, claimed they possessed permanent residence permits and noted that NIS had announced an amnesty window on July 28, 2025, to allow overstayers and undocumented workers to regularize their status.
They argued that they faced threats of deportation before any proper investigation or legal proceedings.
In response, NIS spokesman Akinsola Akinlabi dismissed claims of favoritism, stating that all foreign nationals arrested had violated Nigerian immigration laws.
A senior NIS official added, “The truth about the issue is that these people are criminals, and that was why Immigration officials arrested them. There is nothing like targeting or that someone is behind it. These people are in Nigeria without any valid documents.”
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