Shooting Of Immigration Officer At Chinese Firm: Minister Recants Strong Stance Amidst Conflicting Reports

A controversy over the alleged shooting of a Nigerian Immigration officer at a Chinese-owned company in Niger State has taken a dramatic turn, with Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo retracting his previous, strongly worded statements about the incident.

Initially, the Minister promised to treat the shooting as a major diplomatic issue, describing it as an attack on Nigeria and stating that the government would not tolerate such actions against its uniformed officers.

He claimed that the immigration officer was shot on the orders of the Chinese company owner while performing his official duties of checking the company’s expatriate list.

“That will never happen. It will never be tolerated,” Tunji-Ojo stated at a stakeholder sensitisation workshop on Nigeria’s Visa Policy 2025.

“This has never been done anywhere in the world. And you will not come from anywhere and ask them to shoot them in their homeland. We will take it up with you.”

However, in a statement issued on Friday by his spokesman, Alao Babatunde, the Minister appeared to retract his earlier claims.

The statement clarified that the matter was still being investigated and that initial reports of a deliberate shooting may be inaccurate.

“Although preliminary investigation suggests that the officer was struck by a stray bullet, it is important to clarify that the Hon. Minister’s remarks were made in the context of expressing deep concern about the gravity of the allegations brought to his attention,” the statement read.

“His remarks were intended to emphasise the importance of Nigeria’s sovereignty and the safety of uniformed officers serving the country.”

The statement emphasised that the Ministry of Interior is committed to due process and is awaiting the results of a thorough investigation by security forces.

It also clarified that the reference to the company’s nationality was based on preliminary information and did not constitute an indictment.

The Minister’s retraction follows denials from Nigeria’s Chinese business community. The China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria released a statement denying that a Chinese national ordered the shooting.

“The incident did not involve any Chinese citizens or companies. “The allegation that a Chinese company employee ordered the shooting of a Nigerian immigration officer is completely false,” said Director General Dr. Cui Guangzhen, in the statement.

According to the China General Chamber of Commerce, the incident occurred during a police action on February 21st, 2025, in Minna, Niger State, where officers were attempting to apprehend suspected thieves.

The statement claims that during the arrest, a police officer fired a shot, accidentally hitting an immigration officer who was passing by.

The contradictory accounts, as well as the Minister’s subsequent backtracking, have called into question the government’s initial information and the complexities of the ongoing investigation.

The results of the security agencies’ investigation are now eagerly awaited in order to determine the true circumstances of the incident and establish accountability.

The case remains a sensitive issue, with the potential to affect Nigerian-Chinese diplomatic relations as well as the perception of foreign investment in the country.