A Nigerian national and an American woman have been arrested and charged in federal court after an incident in suburban Minneapolis in which a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent was allegedly trapped inside a vehicle and taken to a police station against his will, U.S. authorities and court documents show.
The federal complaint, filed this week in the District of Minnesota, identifies the suspects as Oluwadamilola Ogooluwa Bamigboye, 24, originally from Nigeria, and Rekeya Lionesha Lee Frazier, 23, a resident of Minneapolis.
Both were taken into custody following the unusual December 10 confrontation and currently remain jailed without bail pending further proceedings.
Incident Details
According to the criminal affidavit reviewed by authorities, HSI agents were conducting surveillance in Plymouth on Bamigboye in connection with an immigration investigation.
Federal agents believed Bamigboye had overstayed his student visa, prompting them to approach him at an apartment complex.
When the agents identified themselves and attempted to speak with Bamigboye about his immigration status, the situation quickly escalated.
Prosecutors allege that Bamigboye, who was near the vehicle, instructed Frazier — who was driving the SUV — to flee.
The federal agent got into the front passenger seat in an apparent attempt to stop the vehicle.
The complaint states that the Homeland Security agent drew his firearm and ordered the driver, Frazier, to stop, but she continued driving.
In the backseat, Bamigboye allegedly called 911, while the agent repeatedly told dispatchers he was a federal officer.
The pursuit involved another federal agent trailing with lights and sirens activated.
The vehicle ultimately stopped outside the New Hope Police Department, where officers were able to block the SUV.
Bamigboye then fled on foot, running into a nearby grocery store, but was tackled and arrested by a combination of federal and local officers. Frazier was apprehended outside the store after initially refusing to exit the SUV.
Charges and Court Appearance
According to reports, Federal prosecutors have charged both Bamigboye and Frazier with interfering with a Department of Homeland Security agent with the intent to commit another felony, an offence that carries significant penalties. They appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Minnesota, where their detention without bail was ordered pending further hearings.
Court filings indicate that Bamigboye acknowledged pushing the federal agent and directing the actions that turned the routine immigration encounter into a confrontation. He reportedly told investigators that he acted the way he did due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from a previous kidnapping experience in Nigeria — a claim that will be examined during legal proceedings.
Frazier, through counsel, declined to speak with law enforcement following her arrest.
Reactions and Context
Local federal law enforcement officials have not publicly commented beyond court disclosures, and legal representatives for the two defendants have not issued statements. The case has raised questions about how immigration enforcement operations are conducted and the risks faced by both agents and individuals subject to federal action.
As of press time, Bamigboye and Frazier remain detained in the federal detention facility in Sherburne County, with future court dates yet to be scheduled.
