Malaysia detains 53 Nigerians for immigration violations

Malaysian immigration authorities arrested 53 Nigerians, more than any other African nationality, among 112 undocumented Africans held between January and October.

No fewer than 53 Nigerians were among 112 undocumented African nationals arrested by Malaysian immigration authorities between January and October 31, Punch has reported.

Nigerians accounted for the highest number of arrests, followed by Ugandans (13), Kenyans (10) and Ghanaians (8).

The Director-General of Malaysia’s Immigration Department, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, disclosed the figures in an interview with the newspaper.

“The primary offence recorded is entering and remaining in the country without a valid pass or permit, under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63; this resulted in 85 arrests, 47 of which involved Nigerian nationals,” he said.

Twenty-three people were detained for overstaying their permitted period, while one Nigerian was arrested for allegedly possessing forged documents.

“These ongoing enforcement operations reflect the authorities’ steadfast commitment to curbing the presence of undocumented migrants and taking firm action against any employers who harbor or employ them,” Shaaban said.

The report did not identify the Nigerians arrested or where they were apprehended.