The FBI has formally charged 24-year-old Nigerian national Damilola Bamigboye in connection with resisting arrest and abducting a federal agent, following a December 10 incident in Plymouth, Minnesota, according to court documents reviewed by Peoples Gazette.
Bamigboye was under surveillance by Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents for overstaying his student visa when a routine operation escalated into a hostage situation. He was charged alongside Rekeya Frazier, who allegedly assisted in the incident.
FBI reports indicate that agents in an unmarked vehicle with sirens and lights were observing Bamigboye’s Kia Optima outside his apartment. A Jeep pulled up next to the Kia, with Bamigboye in the front passenger seat and Frazier driving. Noticing the agents, Bamigboye masked his face and began moving items from the front to the back seat.
When HSI agents approached and identified themselves, Bamigboye grabbed the driver’s headrest and ordered Frazier to drive. FBI Special Agent Terry Getsch stated: “He yelled at Frazier, ‘Drive! Drive! Drive! Get in the car and drive now,’ or words to that effect.”
One agent attempted to stop Frazier from starting the Jeep, while another tried to pull Bamigboye from the back seat. Despite the struggle, Frazier drove off, forcing an agent to jump out to avoid being hit, while another agent was carried inside the moving vehicle.
The agent repeatedly identified himself as a federal officer and urged Frazier to stop, but she threatened to crash the Jeep and insisted on taking him to a police station. The pursuing HSI team followed with sirens and lights.
The Jeep eventually stopped in front of the New Hope Police Department, about two miles from Bamigboye’s residence. Bamigboye fled into a nearby grocery store, where he was arrested, while Frazier was taken into custody by police after initially resisting.
Bamigboye later admitted to wrestling with a federal agent and instructing Frazier to flee, claiming his actions were influenced by post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from a prior kidnapping in Nigeria.
The FBI said it has probable cause to believe Bamigboye and Frazier planned to abduct a federal officer, violating Title 18 of the U.S. Code, Section 111, which covers assaulting or resisting federal officers.
Bamigboye has been arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Schultz in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and now faces federal charges.
