United States authorities have taken a Nigerian man, Oluwadamilola Ogooluwa Bamigboye, into custody following an incident involving federal immigration officers in Minnesota.
Alongside Bamigboye, a woman identified as Rekeya Frazier has also been charged, with both defendants accused of assaulting a federal agent during an attempt to evade arrest.
Court documents show that the incident occurred on December 10 when agents of Homeland Security Investigations visited Bamigboye’s residence in Plymouth, part of the Twin Cities area, to question him over an alleged student visa overstay.
According to reports by local media outlet FOX 9, officers initially placed Bamigboye’s vehicle under surveillance after arriving at the apartment complex.
Investigators said they later observed a sports utility vehicle parked close to the suspect’s car and approached it on foot.
At the scene, agents identified Bamigboye as the passenger in the vehicle, while Frazier, believed to be his girlfriend, was seated behind the wheel.
Federal officials stated that they displayed their badges and informed the occupants that they were immigration officers seeking to ask questions about Bamigboye’s immigration status.
The criminal complaint revealed that Bamigboye questioned the officers about their identity before suddenly moving to the back seat of the vehicle and instructing the driver to leave.
As Frazier attempted to drive off, one of the agents entered the passenger seat in an effort to stop the vehicle, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
Authorities said the driver ignored repeated instructions to stop and continued driving, allegedly pushing the agent’s hand away and threatening to crash the vehicle if he did not comply.
During the movement of the car, both the agent and Bamigboye reportedly made emergency calls, with the agent contacting the command post while Bamigboye dialled 911.
Despite the agent drawing his firearm, officials said the vehicle continued moving as other HSI agents pursued it with sirens and flashing lights.
The pursuit ended when the SUV stopped in front of the New Hope Police Department, where additional agents blocked the vehicle.
Bamigboye was said to have fled on foot into a nearby grocery store before he was apprehended.
The federal agent involved told investigators that he feared he was being abducted during the incident.
Both Bamigboye and Frazier are expected to face trial before a United States District Court in Minnesota.
