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Again, Nigeria denies deportation of nationals from Germany

• Nigeria Embassy economical with deportation details

• Pregnant deportee slumps as fiancé takes poison hearing her deportation

A number of Nigerian migrants were yesterday ( February 26, 2020) deported by the Germany authorities.

The deportees said over 40 of them, each handcuffed and manned by four security men were brought back in an EU chattered plane.

The plane landed few minutes past 4pm and flew back after refuelling as it is usually the practice.

Our crew (Voice for African Migrants, VAM) and representatives of Refugee4Refugee, a political platform for refugees/migrants self-organisation based in Stuttgart, Germany, had waited at the cargo section where the Nigerian authorities often ‘dump’ the deportees but to their chagrin the deportees were not dumped there this time around.

Instead of the cargo section, the deportees were ‘dumped’ in front of the Pilgrim and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja.

An airport source said it was a deliberate plan by the authorities to keep the deportation secret and especially away from the prying eyes of the media.

“They wanted to deny the deportation but from every indication, the plot has abysmally failed. I am yet to understand why the authorities would continue to be evasive on an issue like this.” the source said.

We, had exclusively reported that Germany was going to deport the fourth batch of Nigerians yesterday. This might have formed part of the decision not to take them to the cargo gate.

Although a good number of the deportees had left before we and others became aware of where they were dumped, we were able to meet about five of them, some of who had no means of calling their relations or going home.

Traumatised as they were, the deportees said no Nigerian government official came to counsel or soothe their frayed nerves.

“All they did was to take our profiles. Some were even asking us for money. That was the height of their insensitivity to our plight,” one of the deportees said despondently.

A female deportee, who said she is six months pregnant after receiving a telephone call started crying and slumped. She was immediately assisted by other deportees.

“They told me that my fiancée took poison when he heard that I have been deported,” she said still sobbing.

Another female deportee, who did not want her name in print, said by the nature of health challenge that she has, the German authorities ought not to have deported her.

The stranded deportees relied on support from representatives of Refugee4Refugee to pay their ways back home. The organisation had also made hotel accommodation plans for deportees who might not have somewhere to stay.

Another embarrassing denial by Nigeria Immigration Service

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) which officials attended to the deportees on arrival has once again surprisingly denied knowledge of the exercise.

The National Public Relations Officer of the service, Sunday James said he wasn’t aware of the deportation.

“Not to my knowledge,” he replied when asked if the service was aware of the deportation.

The spokesman of the service at the Murtala Airport, Edet, said: “Sorry I travelled. I am in in Uyo. I may not know exactly. I travelled,”

Nigerian Embassy economical with truth

Nigerian embassy in Germany was economical with the truth when asked about the deportation. The reponse placed side by side with that of immigration show that there is more than meets the eye about the deportations.

It also further confirms the deportees’ allegations that they are often don’t defend them before the Germans.

Speaking on the deportation, Nigeria’s envoy in Germany, Peter Lambat, said: “By our records, 33 Nigerians were scheduled for deportation on 26/2/20. However, recall my last explanation the last time on variances that that could arise against the official figures.”

Confirming our report that four deportation had so far taken place this year, the envoy said: “Yes, there has been other exercises but of fewer persons since beginning of the year.”

Asked if by their records the deportation had not taken place since he said that the deportees were scheduled for deportation, he said:”I used the word because I do not know if the flight took place as scheduled.”

Since he is an envoy right there in Germany, Lambat was asked to verify if the flight took, as the deportees were seen in Lagos yesterday. The envoy was yet to respond as at the time of filling this report ( more than 10 hours after).

45 Nigerians were deported by Germany- Activist

Putting the records straight, the Coordination Activist of Refugee4Refugee, a political platform for refugees/migrants self-organisation based in Stuttgart, Germany, Rex Osa, says a total of 45 Nigerians arrived yesterday Lagos from Germany. “From witnesses report, to each deportee was five police officers assigned. While some of the deported persons were taken into deportation custody a few days before the scheduled flight departure, most of them were arrested the previous night from their sleeping beds and conveyed to the airport.

” There were only three ladies amongst them. The 4th lady was released to go back home with her kids and husband before the flight departed MÜNCHEN Airport.

“By normal standard, no airline will transport a more than 6months old pregnant lady. On the other hand, this is a situation of Germany separating families as usual. One of the deported was arrested during an appointment to submit the doctor’s proof of his 5months old pregnant wife. Another one was arrested in the presence of his close to three months old pregnant wife who is a German.”

Reacting to Nigeria Immigration Service’s claim about the deportation, Rex said: “That would mean that the German government is smuggling suspected Nigerians into the country. The response from the ministry of interior on questions we had put forward through a German parliamentarian. We had requested to know the communication of deportation enforcement with the Nigerian govt. In their response, they claim that the Airport Authorities are informed about 4weeks in advance alongside communication through the foreign representation with the Nigerian foreign affairs’ ministry. Then, how come the immigration office is not notified. But there are always immigration officers who receive and profile them on arrival.”

Rex also frowned at NIgerian embassy’s failure to come clean on the deportation. He said: “Would this not mean a total disrespect for so-called diplomatic relations. Its also shameful to understand the whole power relations. That is if the embassy officials are telling the truth. After all they are actively involved in facilitating the deportation by issuing deportation document at the request of the German deportation regime.

“How can the embassy identify and issue deportation papers for people out of suspicion by physical appearance otherwise accent in this civilisation. The German bereaucracy can never allow that anywhere but they continue to impose and corrupt out government.”

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Over 140 migrants perish in deadliest shipwreck of the year

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According to media sources, the Senegalese and Spanish navies, and fishermen who were nearby, rescued 59 people and retrieved the remains of 20 others.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is deeply saddened by this recent tragedy, which follows four shipwrecks recorded in the Central Mediterranean last week and another in the English Channel.

“We call for unity between governments, partners and the international community to dismantle trafficking and smuggling networks that take advantage of desperate youth,” said Bakary Doumbia, IOM Senegal Chief of Mission.

“It is also important that we advocate for enhanced legal channels to undermine the traffickers’ business model and prevent loss of life.”

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Local community members told IOM the vessel left Mbour, a coastal town in western Senegal on Saturday (24/10) bound for the Canary Islands. The boat caught fire a few hours after departure and capsized near Saint-Louis, on Senegal’s northwest coast.

The Government of Senegal and IOM have arranged a mission to travel to Saint-Louis to assess the needs of survivors and provide immediate psychosocial assistance.

The number of departures from West Africa to the Canary Islands has significantly increased in recent weeks.

IOM Senegal has been monitoring departures from the coast with the assistance of members of the community since the beginning of September. In September alone, 14 boats carrying 663 migrants left Senegal for the Canary Islands. Of these departures, 26 per cent were reported to have experienced an incident or shipwreck.

IOM estimates there have been roughly 11,000 arrivals to the Canary Islands this year compared to 2,557 arrivals during the same period last year. This is still far below peaks seen in 2006 when over 32,000 people arrived.

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With this tragic shipwreck, at least 414 people are known to have died along this route in 2020 according to IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, which recorded 210 fatalities there in all of 2019.

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Displaced Yemen children at risk of the deadly impacts of severe food insecurity

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Acute Malnutrition analysis released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and other partners is extremely concerning. With limited access to food, humanitarian services and health care, displaced children in Yemen are at risk of the deadly impacts of severe food insecurity.

Around 26 per cent of the more than 156,000 people newly displaced this year, in the areas where the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has access, cited food as their main need. This is the second most cited need after shelter and housing, which 65 per cent of people reported as their main need. In areas where there are higher levels of displacement, like Al Hudaydah, Taizz, Al Dhale’e and Marib, higher levels of food needs have also been reported.

“Displaced Yemenis leave their homes with nothing and often find themselves seeking safety in locations where there are no job opportunities and barely enough services, including health care,” said Christa Rottensteiner, IOM Chief of Mission for Yemen.

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“This can leave vulnerable people without enough food to feed their families. Given that UN partners are reporting that acute malnutrition rates among children under five are the highest ever recorded in parts of Yemen, we are extremely worried about children in displaced families.”

The situation in Marib is particularly concerning given that an escalation in hostilities has displaced over 90,000 people to the city and caused a drastic shortage of services. Displaced people in Marib report food to be one of their most urgent needs. Of the displacement sites assessed by IOM in October, some reported that food shortages were a major concern for approximately 50 per cent of their residents.

In response to food insecurity, the emergency aid kits distributed under the Rapid Response Mechanism by IOM to newly displaced families include emergency food rations. IOM also carries out livelihood support activities for displaced communities to help them generate income. Most recently the Organization supported displaced women in making face masks which help their community combat the spread of COVID-19.

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IOM also operates a health centre in Al Jufainah Camp, Yemen’s largest displacement site, and multiple mobile health clinics. In addition to providing primary health care services to over 55 per cent of displaced people in Marib, IOM’s mobile health clinics provide community level access to malnutrition screening for children under the age of five and referral for treatment, in coordination with UNICEF. Given the high demand for such nutritional support, early intervention is vital to reducing avoidable morbidity and mortality among displaced children.

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Nigerians in Spain say no to genocide

Nigerians resident in Spain have kicked against bad governance and brutalitalisation of innocent citizens by security operatives in Nigeria.

They are in solidarity with the #Endsars protesters.

The #Endsars protest started by young Nigerians to say no to brutality, impunity and gruesome killings in the hands of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the government in the country saw security operatives using live bullets on the protesters last week, October 21, 2020.

In a statement signed by Afolabi Oloko, the Nigerians in Spain said: “In every part of the world, including Nigeria, we believe protesting is a fundamental right of all citizenry that we can exercise whenever we deem it fit as long as it is civil and devoid of violence but such is not the case in Nigeria where the young future of the country are murdered by their very own government just because they made demands that there must be a reform to the notorious Police department and that the country be reformed in general. Have they asked for too much from a responsible and responsive government?

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“It is so disheartening that after Ten days that the youth refused to back down they resorted to killing, maiming of their own future generations just because they asked and begged for good governance and good policing. It’s a shame that young people are being killed all around the cities of Nigeria from Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Abuja, Ondo , Benin, Porthacort just to mention a few. It was horrendous seeing over seventy people being murdered at night while still protesting unarmed peacefully in Lekki area of Lagos state. They organised by switching off the street light while they carried out their evil deed against defenceless young people of the country and also took away the CCTV. The commander-in-chief of the Armed forces in person of President Muhamodu Buhari must be tried at the International court for genocide against it’s own people.

“We the compatriots far away in Spain are with our young brothers and sister on the streets saying no to bad governance as you’re in our hearts and prayers. We support you in the just cause you’re are fighting. Fighting for one’s future should not be seen as an affront to the authorities, rather they should look inward and realise that the system is rotten and should be cleansed but not killing innocent young men on the streets with Army being deployed to take lives of vibrant and resourceful, frustrated and change hungry citizens.
“Today, we came out in multitude in solidarity with our compatriots back home to say #ENDSARS! #ENDBADGOVERNANCE #ENDPOLICEBRUTALITY #ENDCORUPTION #ENDTHEGENOCIDE”

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