NIS arrests travellers aboard Qatar Airways with stolen, fake passports

The officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos Command has arrested two travellers over stolen and fake international passports.

The travellers, Melekwe Gift and Melekwe Peace who were on their way to India were arrested aboard Qatar Airways flight on June 23, 2022.

A statement by Louisa Amadiokoro, the public relations officer, Lagos Airport Command stated that the duo was arrested during an immigration clearance, adding that this was made possible through the stringent measures put in place by the command.

The statement quoted Kemi Nandap, the assistant Comptroller-General, MMA Command as saying that the command had improved its surveillance and security measures in line with Isah Jere Idris, the acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service.

According to Nandap, the command had ensured a drastic reduction in human trafficking through the airport, stressing that the arrested travelers claimed to be a couple, but regretted that they were in possession of a stolen passport and a fake passport, respectively.

She expressed that Melekwe Gift was in possession of a stolen passport that was watch-listed on the July 29, 2011, while Melekwe Peace was in possession of a fake passport revealed by the command’s forensic investigation.

However, the duo claimed to have obtained the passports through an agent named Yusuf.

She added: “Upon investigation, it was uncovered that the couple was travelling to seek greener pastures, which contradicted their earlier claim that Melekwe Gift was traveling for medical treatment- claiming she was suffering from leukemia, whereas she was perfectly healthy.

“Further investigation revealed that they were not a couple, but strangers that only met a day before their planned trip.”

Nandap explained further that Gift’s real names were Endurance Ofem Ikpi from Ugep, Cross Rivers state and was never married to Melekwe Peace, but was instructed by the agent to claim so.

Gift in her confessional statement, allegedly claimed that her old friend, Tina who now resides in India introduced her to the idea of traveling with the promise that she would get her a job in India.

Nandap explained that the suspects were obviously traveling abroad in search of greener pastures and were also suspected victims of human trafficking.

The suspects after interrogation were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further necessary action.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.