Malaysian immigration authorities have arrested 53 Nigerians among 112 African nationals detained for various immigration offences across the country between January and October 31, 2026.
The figures were disclosed by the Director-General of Malaysia’s Immigration Department, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, in an interview with Malaysian newspaper Utusan Malaysia, published on Friday.
Nigerians recorded the highest number of arrests among the African nationals, accounting for nearly half of the total figure.Uganda followed with 13 arrests, while Kenya recorded 10 and Ghana had eight.
The other nationalities included Somalia and Tanzania, with six arrests each, Senegal with four and Algeria with three.Burkina Faso, Togo and The Gambia recorded two arrests each, while Guinea, Zimbabwe and Libya had one arrest each.Shaaban identified entering or remaining in Malaysia without a valid pass or permit as the most common immigration offence during the period.
He said 85 people were arrested for violating Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, including 47 Nigerians.Another 23 people were detained for overstaying their permitted period, while three others were arrested for violating the conditions attached to their immigration passes.
The immigration chief also disclosed that one Nigerian was arrested for allegedly possessing forged documents under Section 56(1)(l) of the Act. In a separate case, an Algerian employer was arrested for allegedly employing foreign workers without valid immigration passes.
Shaaban said the Immigration Department would continue enforcement operations against undocumented migrants. He added that authorities would also take action against employers and other individuals found employing or accommodating foreign nationals without proper immigration documents.
The arrests reflect Malaysia’s continued enforcement of its immigration laws, with Nigerians accounting for the largest share of African nationals detained during the 10-month period.
Emiabata Deborah Oluwabusiolami
Stay informed with the latest news, breaking stories and important updates. Follow THE EAGLE NEWS MEDIA WhatsApp Channel.
Join Our WhatsApp Channel