For individual reasons, including the economic and security challenges facing Nigeria, many Nigerians, especially young people, are desperate to leave the country even through illegal means. BENJAMIN SAMSON this report examines the ordeals of Nigerians living in the Diaspora against the backdrop of recent deportations.
In a record-breaking deportation flight, 44 Nigerians and Ghanaians were forcibly removed from the UK last Saturday, marking a significant surge in immigration enforcement.
According to guardian.com/uk, a British medium, the Home Office, confirmed the action as part of a broader crackdown on immigration, which has seen the deportation of over 3,600 people since the Labour government came to power in July. Deportation flights to Nigeria have been relatively rare, with only four recorded since 2020, and prior flights carrying significantly fewer individuals ranging from six to 21 people.
The recent flight, which saw 44 deportees, more than doubled the numbers seen in previous removals.
Victims’ ordeals
In an interview with a United Kingdom-based newspaper, The Guardian, four Nigerian men were held at Brook House immigration removal centre near Gatwick before their deportation.
One of them, who had been in the UK for 15 years seeking asylum, expressed his distress, “I have no criminal record, but the Home Office has refused my claim.”
Another man disclosed that he had been a victim of trafficking and bore torture scars, yet his asylum claims had also been rejected.
A Home Office spokesperson defended the move, stating that the government was committed to enforcing immigration rules and ensuring that people without legal rights to remain in the UK were returned.
Hate?
Speaking in an interview with this reporter, a Nigerian in the Diaspora, John Unekwu, lamented the poor treatment of Nigerians in different parts of the world.
He said, “Over 1, 000 Nigerians have been deported in a deplorable manner from the United Arab Emirate (UAE), Turkiye and other countries in 2024. From xenophobic attacks in South Africa to police brutality in Ghana, racial discriminations in Europe and America, and modern-day slavery in the Middle East, Nigerians abroad constantly face varied forms of de-humanisation and targeted actions of state and non-state actors.
“There seems to be this hatred for Nigerians in the Diaspora; the moment you say you’re a Nigerian like the case of South Africa or any other part of the world, there seems to be this hatred as people begin to hate you for nothing.
“We’ve heard a series of stories of our people being victimised or attacked simply because they are Nigerians.”
Irregular migrations
However, speaking with this reporter, the president, Global Migration Research Institute (GMRI), Prof. Williams Azuma Ijoma, attributed the ill-treatment and deportation of Nigerians to illegal migration.
He cautioned Nigerians against embarking on illegal migration, noting that many Nigerians have lost their lives in search of greener pastures.
He said, “Migration in all its dimensions has emerged as a complex challenge affecting nations worldwide. From economic disparities and political conflicts to environmental degradation and social inequalities, it manifests in various forms and necessitates comprehensive solutions.
“The Nigerian government has made commendable efforts in implementing policies and initiatives, such as the National Migration Policy and the establishment of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), aimed at combating migration-related challenges.