Ebola Outbreak: 39 immigrants from DR Congo, Sierra Leone arrested in Lagos

At least 39 foreign nationals were ,yesterday, arrested by Police and Immigration officers in two hotels on Lagos Island.

It was gathered that they were arrested following a tip-off by some residents of the area over fears of the spread of Ebola virus disease.

Upon receiving the report, the Area Commander, Imohimi Edgal, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Area A Command, Lion Building, contacted Immigration and Health officials who stormed Benin Hotel and an unamed guest house, situated on Atere street and effected the arrest of the foreigners, 35 of whom are citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo, while the rest are Sierra Leoneian nationals.

A police source said the Immigration officials will determine if the suspects are legally residing in the country while the Health officials will determine their health status. He also added that all the hotels in the area have been placed under surveillance.

It will be recalled that six (6) people have died from the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country. The total number of reported cases is fifteen(15) after the Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer flew into the country with the virus on July 20th and was admitted into a Lagos hospital.