The Nigerian government has issued a strong warning to the Chinese government following the shooting of a Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officer at a Chinese-owned company in Jos, Plateau State.
Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed the incident on Thursday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ workshop on the Nigeria Visa Policy 2025. He described the attack as a direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and vowed that the matter would be treated as a serious diplomatic issue.
According to Tunji-Ojo, the officer was on official duty, conducting a routine inspection of the company’s expatriate list, when the company’s owner allegedly instructed a security officer to shoot him.
“I cannot imagine going to China, opening a company, and ordering my security to shoot a government official in uniform—it’s unheard of anywhere in the world,” Tunji-Ojo stated. “These officers serve this country with dedication, and no foreign entity will be allowed to assault them on Nigerian soil.”
He warned that the Nigerian government has the authority to revoke the company’s business permit and declare its operations illegal. “We will not tolerate this. No company or individual is above the law,” he added.
Tunji-Ojo underscored that the government is prepared to take firm action to prevent a recurrence. “We will not obstruct legitimate business operations, but we will not allow any entity to undermine our sovereignty or compromise the safety of our citizens,” he said.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens and holding those responsible accountable, stressing that the government will engage diplomatically with China to address the incident and seek redress.
