Law & Enforcement
A routine immigration enforcement operation in suburban Minnesota escalated into a chaotic and dangerous confrontation this week after a Nigerian national and a local woman allegedly assaulted and forcibly restrained a federal agent in what authorities initially believed was a kidnapping.
The incident — which unfolded across two Twin Cities suburbs and prompted a multi-jurisdictional police response — has resulted in federal assault charges, a foot pursuit near a busy shopping center, and renewed concerns about the increasingly volatile environment facing immigration officers on the ground.
According to reporting first obtained by Alpha News, the suspects have been identified as Oluwadamilola Ogooluwa Bamigboye, 24, a Nigerian national accused of overstaying a student visa, and Rekeya Lionesha Lee Frazier, 23, a Twin Cities-area woman who was driving the vehicle involved in the incident.
What began as surveillance quickly spiraled into a high-risk encounter involving alleged physical force, multiple emergency calls, and a moving vehicle with a federal agent inside.
Incident Triggered by Immigration Surveillance
According to an affidavit filed by federal authorities, agents with Homeland Security Investigations were conducting surveillance in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Plymouth, Minnesota, while attempting to locate Bamigboye.
Investigators allege Bamigboye had overstayed his student visa and was being sought as part of an immigration enforcement action. Surveillance teams observed him exiting an apartment building and entering a Jeep SUV driven by Frazier.
At that point, agents moved in.
Three HSI agents — two in plain clothes and one wearing a clearly marked vest reading “POLICE” and “HSI” — approached the vehicle. Authorities state the agents displayed their badges and verbally identified themselves as law enforcement.
What happened next, according to prosecutors, was anything but routine.
Situation Turns Violent
Federal filings allege that as agents attempted to make contact, the situation rapidly escalated. One agent was reportedly assaulted and forced into the vehicle, which then began moving — triggering immediate concern that the agent had been taken against his will.
Multiple 911 calls were placed as the vehicle traveled from Plymouth into the neighboring city of New Hope.
One call came from another federal agent who was actively pursuing the Jeep. Another call, according to police records, came from the driver herself — who told dispatchers that she was heading toward a police department.
That contradiction alone raised red flags for responding officers.
Local police units from both Plymouth Police Department and New Hope Police Department coordinated to track and intercept the vehicle as it crossed city lines.
Vehicle Stopped Outside Police Department
The pursuit ended dramatically when the Jeep came to a stop directly in front of the New Hope Police Department.
By that point, officers say the federal agent was able to safely exit the vehicle. One suspect — identified as Bamigboye — allegedly fled on foot toward a nearby Hy-Vee grocery store, prompting a brief manhunt in a public area.
He was detained shortly thereafter.
Frazier, who remained inside the vehicle, was taken into custody at the scene.
Authorities emphasized that no officers or bystanders were seriously injured during the incident — a fact they credit to quick coordination between federal and local law enforcement.
Federal Charges Filed
Late Thursday, federal prosecutors filed assault charges against both suspects. While the initial reports described the incident as a kidnapping, officials clarified that the current charges stem from assault on a federal officer and obstruction, with the possibility of additional counts depending on further review.
According to investigators, the alleged actions were part of a desperate attempt to evade immigration enforcement.
If convicted, Bamigboye could face not only criminal penalties but also immediate deportation proceedings following any sentence. Frazier, though a U.S. citizen, faces serious federal exposure for allegedly assisting in the assault and attempted escape.
A Growing Threat Environment for Agents
The case highlights a growing concern within federal law enforcement circles: immigration agents are increasingly encountering resistance that goes beyond verbal defiance.
In recent years, HSI and ICE officers have reported a rise in physical confrontations, vehicle-based escapes, and coordinated interference during enforcement actions — particularly in jurisdictions where political rhetoric has portrayed immigration enforcement as illegitimate or abusive.
Law enforcement sources say this rhetoric has consequences.
When individuals believe officers lack authority — or that local officials will not support federal actions — the risk of violent escalation increases dramatically.
“This could have ended much worse,” one law enforcement official familiar with the case told reporters. “A moving vehicle, a restrained agent, public roads — that’s a recipe for tragedy.”
Not a ‘Paperwork Violation’ Scenario
While overstaying a visa is often dismissed in political debates as a minor administrative matter, this case underscores how quickly immigration violations can intersect with serious criminal conduct.
Federal authorities emphasized that the charges filed this week are not about paperwork, but about alleged violence against a law enforcement officer.
“This is not civil noncompliance,” one official noted. “This is alleged criminal assault.”
That distinction matters — particularly as the Biden-era narrative that immigration enforcement is purely humanitarian continues to collide with real-world dangers faced by agents.
Minnesota Once Again in the Spotlight
The incident also adds to Minnesota’s growing list of law enforcement controversies, coming amid heightened scrutiny of state and local governance under Democratic leadership.
While Gov. Tim Walz has not commented on this specific case, critics argue that a permissive political climate has emboldened individuals to resist enforcement actions they would never have challenged a decade ago.
Supporters of the administration reject that framing, insisting the incident is isolated.
Federal investigators, however, are less convinced.
What Happens Next
Both suspects are expected to appear in federal court, where prosecutors will outline their case and seek pretrial conditions. Immigration proceedings against Bamigboye are expected to resume following resolution of the criminal case.
Authorities are continuing to review body camera footage, surveillance video, and dispatch recordings to determine whether additional charges are warranted.
For the federal agent involved, the incident is a reminder of how quickly a routine operation can turn dangerous — and why coordination between agencies remains critical.
A Sobering Reality
At its core, this case isn’t about politics. It’s about law enforcement safety, public risk, and accountability.
A federal agent doing his job was allegedly assaulted and restrained in a moving vehicle. That fact alone cuts through the noise.
As immigration enforcement continues under heightened tension nationwide, incidents like this one serve as a warning: when the rule of law is questioned, chaos is never far behind.